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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the name of the club where Mary was allowed to attend meetings with her father?

2. Whom did Charlie call on the phone after threatening to harm her daughters?

3. Which of the following was NOT something Charlie burned in a bonfire during her mental breakdown?

4. How old is Mary at the opening of the memoir?

5. What distinct article of clothing was Charlie wearing in her death photograph?

Short Essay Questions

1. What behaviors did Grandma Moore witness in the Karr girls as children that deeply disturbed her?

2. How did Lecia react when her mother threatened to shoot Hector in front of her?

3. How did the Karr family react when Lecia was attacked by the jellyfish at the beach?

4. What was Mary's reaction to seeing her mother in the mental hospital for the first time?

5. How did Grandma Moore treat Cousin Dotty in comparison to the way she treated Charlie?

6. What did Mary believe to be the most traumatic memory of her childhood?

7. In what ways did Mary try to care for her father when he came to live with the family after being released from the hospital?

8. How did Mary tie together the news of the jellyfish attack with the news of Grandma Moore's death?

9. What relationship did Mary have with her grandmother when the pair was living together during Mary's childhood?

10. Why did Charlie choose to vacation in Mexico for four weeks, and what news did she bring back to her daughters upon her return?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the main issues Mary struggled with throughout her childhood was feeling competitive with her sister, Lecia. First, explain the relationship between Mary and Lecia in their early childhood. What elements of their personalities were pitted against each other for competition? Then, explain how the relationship between Mary and Lecia changed when their mother was committed. How did the competitive nature of the relationship between the two sister alter once their mother was no longer in the home? Be sure to include at least two examples of scenes from the memoir to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Books become an important method of escape for Mary during her violent and troubled childhood. One book in particular, Dracula, is especially important to her. First, describe how Mary was first introduced to the book, Dracula. Then, give examples of at least two scenes in the memoir in which Mary uses metaphors from the book to explain her psychology. Finally, explain whether or not you believe the book Dracula is a good metaphor for Mary's life and why. Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your argument.

Essay Topic 3

The Karr family's move to Colorado signals a real change in the relationship between Charlie and Pete. First, explain why the family decided to move to Colorado in the first place. Then, describe how this motivation signals a shift in the balance of power between Charlie and Pete. How do you see this relationship change carry out through the family's time in Colorado? Be sure to include at least two examples of scenes from the text that you believe help strengthen your argument.

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