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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. How many days does it take from the time of Theresa's research to the discovery of a third letter?

2. What do Theresa and Garrett agree to do after sailing for a while on their first date?

3. What does Garrett do when helping the caller the day following his first date with Theresa?

4. What does Theresa notice when she stands in front of Happenstance for the first time?

5. In the Prologue, what tale does the author introduce about a sailor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What story did the prologue reveal about messages in bottles?

2. What advice does Jeb gave Garrett concerning his long grieving?

3. How long does it take for Deanna to convince Theresa to publish the message?

4. What reasons does Theresa have for finding the man who wrote the messages?

5. How do Garrett and Theresa meet the second time?

6. Why does Theresa want to put everything aside after finding the second message?

7. Do you think removing information to identify who wrote the letter makes the moral ambiguity disappear?

8. What clues did Theresa and Deanna find in the message?

9. Why does Theresa want to write an introduction to the message?

10. Why does Deanna try to convince Theresa to find Garrett?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the characters of Theresa and Garrett from the beginning of the story to the end. How does each character develop? Do they develop positive or negative characteristics? Do they help one another overcome their previous loss or hinder one another from moving on? Use the book to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

Why is Theresa so eager to get a commitment from Garrett even after such a short amount of time? Do you think her reading the letters cloud her judgment toward Garrett? Whom do you think Theresa wants the commitment with: the Garrett of the letters or the man she just met? Use the novel to support your statements.

Essay Topic 3

In "Message in a Bottle," the setting is used to add conflict in the relationship between Theresa and Garrett. Discuss the separation Theresa and Garrett face, as well as the impact on each character. How does having two settings create conflict? Provide examples and quotes from the story to support your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,065 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample