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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. In "October Becky," Becky brings home a surprise for Andrew. What is the surprise?

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

3. What does Becky promise Mimi to do?

4. How does Tiffany feel about being pregnant with Richard's child?

5. While in the hospital with Julian to check his heart murmur, which of the friends comforts Ayinde while she cries?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mimi finally go too far and prompt Becky to stand up to her?

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

3. Explain the irony between how Ayinde's day begins and how it ends.

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

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

6. What is ironic about Kelly and Steve's fight?

7. Lia sees that the babies are growing and changing and Becky remarks that they all have changed. How does this comment mimic the theme and title of the story?

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

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

10. How does the readers' perception of Steve change in "January Kelly"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Of all the main characters, Becky is the character who struggles with physical appearance. She looks in the mirror and questions whether she is pregnant or just fat. Although Becky has struggled with her body image most of her life, the pregnancy really makes her draw attention to her weight. She has hoped that through the pregnancy she could relax with the weight issue, but it has not. How do this disappointment and her struggle with weight loss and body image affect her view of pregnancy?

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