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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. Why does Theresa cancel her Thanksgiving plans?

2. What do Theresa and Garrett do after dinner on their third date?

3. What do Theresa and Kevin prepare for early in the morning after arriving in Wilmington?

4. What does Garrett discover about Kevin while giving him lessons?

5. What does Deanna want to do with Theresa the day following her return from her first trip to Wilmington?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Garrett's feelings after spending another weekend with Theresa?

2. What happens the last night Theresa is in Wilmington?

3. What does Garrett find in Theresa's apartment and how does he react?

4. What are Garrett's and Theresa's feeling toward each other at the end of Chapter 9 ?

5. How does the long distance relationship work for Garrett and Theresa?

6. What news did Catherine give Garrett shortly before her death?

7. What did Garrett do after his first night with Theresa?

8. What does Garrett fail to do the night his father visits him?

9. What are Garrett's feelings at the start of Chapter 10?

10. What lesson ddoes Theresa learn at the end of Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Setting can deepen the story line and help deepen your characters' traits. In the novel, "A Message in a Bottle," the sailboat acts as one of the settings in the story and is important to many major scenes in the novel. Define setting in your essay and then discuss how it contributes to the story and the character development. What does the sailboat represent in "Message in a Bottle?" Why does the sailboat's destruction have importance in the novel? Provide a few examples from the story to help support your statements.

Essay Topic 2

"Message in a Bottle" expresses humanity's capacity for love and relationships, but love and life appear simultaneously in the novel, revealing the human condition and human frailty. Discuss the motif of love in "Message in a Bottle," analyzing how love can be both destructive and regenerating.

Essay Topic 3

Jeb had experienced a similar loss to Garrett, though Jeb may have been more prepared. Jeb attempts to offer advice to Garrett about continuing to live, despite the grief and loss. When Jeb asks Garrett about his relationship with Theresa, Garrett tries to deny his feelings.

Later asks Theresa out for lunch and dinner despite having initially rejected his dad's suggestion. Compare this with the instances when Jeb thinks Garrett's dreams focus on his fears and when Jeb believes Garrett is moving too quickly in their relationship. Why does Jeb seem to go back and forth about his son's relationship with Theresa? Use information from the book to build your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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