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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 Mantini returns home from work, what does he notice in the corner, covered in lace and ruffles?

2. When discussing Ben with Mantini, which of the following adjectives does Carla use to describe her husband?

3. What animal is printed on Carla's skirt, which Mantini admires?

4. Which of the following adjectives does Mantini use to describe Dan?

5. What is Mantini doing when he first feels the presence in his bedroom after work?

Short Essay Questions

1. When he remembers the dance, how does Mantini feel about Carla?

2. How does Carla settle into her new life in Rome?

3. What does Carla pack when she is forced to evacuate Tripoli?

4. What was Lucia wearing on the night she met Ben?

5. What compliments do Carla and Mantini exchange when they first meet one another?

6. How does Ben feel about Carla's affair with Mantini?

7. How does Carla manage to travel to the air force base during the evacuation?

8. How do Mantini and Carla enjoy themselves during their first public outing?

9. How did Carla and Mohammad meet?

10. Where are the evacuees, taken from Tripoli, dropped off?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of love is one that pervades the novel as a whole. First, explain what Carla views as love in her life. Then, compare / contrast the two loves of her life - Ben and Mantini. Based on this comparison, explain which man is better suited for Carla, and explain why.

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of the novel, Carla learns to grieve for many of the things she has lost in her life - her home, her husband, and her lover.

Part 1.) Describe the way Carla dealt with her grief at the opening of the novel, and compare / contrast that to the way she deals with grief at the end of the novel.

Part 2.) Briefly explain what you believe to be the main motivation for Carla to deal with grief in her life. Why did it take 35 years for Carla to learn how to handle her emotions?

Part 3.) Explain which of the main losses in Carla's life: her home, her marriage, or her lover, has had the deepest effect on her life, and why.

Essay Topic 3

Lucia is a powerful force in Mantini's life throughout the novel. First, explain how Lucia died and what effect that death had on Mantini. Then, explain how Lucia's presence continued to stay with Mantini and how that presence affected his daily life, and his life with Carla.

(see the answer keys)

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