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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. When Becky comes to visit with Ayinde in "December Ayinde," what does she bring with her?

2. What do Kelly's sisters tell her?

3. Which character said, "You'd be surprised what people can live with"?

4. Of whom is Andrew speaking when he says, "Fine, disown us, we're better off without her"?

5. Ayinde tells the friends that she and Richard will be appearing on what television show?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Becky crack the tough shell Mimi has built around her?

2. How does Merrill's talk of her husband help Lia make another step on the road to recovery?

3. How does the fact that Julian is crying when Kelly and Lia arrive and the knowledge that Ayinde didn't know he was crying show the emotional turmoil that she is going through?

4. How does the author begin to show suspense in "December Ayinde"?

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

6. How does the author show the difference in the mothers' personalities as they are walking with the babies in their strollers?

7. How does the author foreshadow the disaster of the magazine interview?

8. 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?

9. What action shows that Ayinde is beginning to come to terms with Richard's infidelity and the resulting child?

10. What is the huge plot twist that happens in "January Becky"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Paula, Kelly's mother, tries to convince Kelly that covetousness is wrong. Due to Kelly's childhood, Kelly did not take this advice to heart. Should Kelly have listened to her mother's advice more closely? Why does Kelly strive so hard to find the perfect accessories? Is Kelly truly covetous? Does Kelly wish to appear affluent? Does she truly appreciate nice things? Whatever Kelly's motivation, do you think she will ever be satisfied by the acquisition of more objects? Defend your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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