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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. Who joined Connie for lunch on the opening day of the trial?

2. Which entries in Sibyl's notebook did Connie read?

3. What did Connie notice about Hastings and Sibyl as the trial was about to begin?

4. What did Tanner say Sibyl forced Charlotte to do?

5. What happened during the first few days in court?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Connie continue to read other entries in Sibyl's journal after reading the one she found the notebook opened to?

2. Why did Hastings say that Asa could not possibly have seen the blood arch coming from Charlotte's abdomen?

3. Why did Hastings involve blood evidence and home birth experts before Sibyl was even charged?

4. What was Connie's reaction to seeing the word "vagal" written on a conference room board at Hastings' place of business?

5. Why did Sibyl sew up Charlotte's abdomen after the baby was delivered?

6. What was unusual about Hastings' delivery of the manslaughter charges to Sibyl?

7. What realization did Connie come to while she was watching the goings on in the court during the jury selection?

8. Why was Hastings' winning of a motion to review Charlotte's medical records important?

9. What did Hastings say about home births to make his point about their safety relative to hospital births?

10. What was significant about the manner in which Sibyl stitched Charlotte's body?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What tone is set for the novel in the very first section of the book? What does the author do to set the tone? Does the book progress using the same tone throughout, or does it change at some point?

Essay Topic 2

How is the theme of science vs. nature exemplified in Midwives? How is science represented? How is nature represented? What events and relationships show the conflict between the two?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Charlotte's death have such a profound effect on Sibyl? How is her position as a midwife significant in her reaction? How might her reaction have been different if she were a doctor?

(see the answer keys)

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