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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. Mimi offers to watch Ava so that Becky can do something. What is it?

2. Lia has 27 emails from someone and deletes them without looking at them. Who is she ignoring?

3. Why is Ayinde told she will never anchor the news?

4. Who does Steve think should care for Oliver while Kelly works?

5. What news does Steve tell Kelly in June?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Weiner paint Mimi in the chapter "September Becky"?

2. How does Lia's flight back to LA bring out the thought, "You can't go home again'?

3. Ayinde is experiencing pain and suffering when first introduced in "April Ayinde". Usually Ayinde is one that appears to have it all. In what ways is Ayinde experiencing pain and suffering?

4. Jennifer Weiner paints a picture of motherhood in the opening scene of "August Becky." How is this picture humorous?

5. Kelly and her husband Steve both come home from the hospital in "July Kelly." What had happened to Steve?

6. Why is the thought of having intercourse so hard for Kelly?

7. When Richard asks if "it's supposed to be this hard" and he answers "everything" to Ayinde. What does Richard mean by "everything"?

8. How does Ayinde feel about her mother sending her the book Priscilla Prewitt's Baby Success?

9. Why does Richard, Ayinde's husband, appear to be ready to go on another trip?

10. How does the "smelly monstrosity of a couch that the neighbor was throwing away" give Kelly flashbacks of her childhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lia, Ayinde, Becky, and Kelly all have difficult relationships with their mothers and mothers-in-law. Think about how these relationships affect them and the bonds they develop with their babies. For example, Ayinde clearly wants to parent her children differently than the way she was raised, however, she also wants to live up to her mother's expectations by taking the book Baby Success seriously. How does Ayinde deal with balancing these two sides and will it affect Ayinde's relationship with Julian? How? Also, how do Ayinde's childhood memories affect the relationship with Julian?

Essay Topic 2

Many objects played significant roles in the story Little Earthquakes, such as the park and the blue coat. Choose an object and describe in detail its significance.

Essay Topic 3

In the midst of personal troubles, Becky's friends have difficulty finding ways that their lives are blessed and how they are fortunate. In particular, Kelly tends to be scornful when people call her lucky. But, towards the end of the story, she starts to realize how blessed and fortunate she is. How does motherhood tend to put things into perspective for Becky? What does Becky learn from her friends?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 797 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample