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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. Once home from the music class in "January Kelly," Kelly is awakened by a phone call. Who is this phone call from?

2. When Becky wakes up sick, what does she ask Andrew to bring her?

3. What does Becky promise Mimi to do?

4. What does Ayinde say to Richard after she finds out he has cheated on her and she has had time to calm down?

5. How does Kelly solve the problem at her event in "December Kelly"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Mimi's self-absorption shown in "October Becky"?

2. One of the main themes of the book is forgiveness. How is that played out in "February Becky"?

3. How is Richard able to show his love for Ayinde during the crisis of baby Julian's sickness?

4. How does Ayinde implement what she learned from her parents in her childhood: that she was a lucky little girl to live so well and she had to be kind and helpful to those less fortunate?

5. In the chapter "February Lia," how is it shown that Lia is still in love and wants to reach out to Sam?

6. Describe how Kelly struggles in "December Kelly" with raising the baby and working.

7. How does learning the truth about her childhood help Lia move toward reconciling with Sam?

8. Starting with "November Lia," tell how Lia is beginning to appear on the road to recovery.

9. How does the need for communication show in "February Kelly"?

10. What is symbolic about Lia mentioning that she wished she had her mother's blue coat when she is going to talk to Merrill?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, we learn about the main characters and their relationships with their mothers and/or mothers-in-law. Some of the main characters have strong relationships with their mothers and/or mothers-in-law; while others have poor relationships with their mothers and/or mothers-in-law. Write about the relationships of the four main characters with their mothers and/or mothers-in-law. Tell if the relationship is good or bad and what causes or has caused the relationship to be the way it is.

Essay Topic 2

The four friends have very unique personalities. Compare and contrast the friends. How are they alike and how are they different?

Essay Topic 3

All four main characters are very different and have four very different lives with their husbands. Some women are forced to quit their jobs and stay at home with their children while the other women can go back to their careers. What are the similarities and differences among each of the four families?

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