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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 does Annie remember feeling after speaking with the adults at the performances at the Kahn home?

2. How does Luca find Claire, soon after her birth?

3. How does Annie feel about Sofie's accomplishments?

4. How has Frieda been permanently cut off from her son, based on what is said in Chapter 22?

5. Why had Graham said people read fiction?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lucas initially feel about his daughter? Why?

2. Why does Edith feel sorry for her ex-husband, Mike?

3. How does Frieda begin to feel admiration for Jeanne for keeping her out of the spreading of Graham's ashes?

4. How does Frieda feel, in the end, about hearing Annie constantly vent about Graham's betrayal?

5. How do Sarah and Lucas find themselves in the same situation regarding their parents and their expectations of them?

6. How does being a caretaker of Claire make Frieda feel?

7. How do Lucas' feelings towards Claire change at the end of Chapter 26?

8. How does Frieda acknowledging Graham's affair get her into a tough situation with Annie?

9. What is Frieda's response when Sarah asks her if her relationship with Graham had been as secretive as Graham and Annie's?

10. What is Graham's argument, as shared by Annie, regarding why people read fiction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel ends with Annie grieving again over the loss of Graham. How has her grief changed over the course of the novel? What has led to these changes? What does this reveal about the complexities of grief?

Essay Topic 2

Both Sarah and Lucas love their father unconditionally. What is it that they love about him? How does this influence their relationships with him? How do their relationships reflect the way that many people feel about Graham? What might Graham have to say about the feelings of others towards him?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 7, what does Annie notice about Graham? What does she think is the cause? How does Graham's behavior and demeanor affect Annie in this chapter? How does this contrast with what happens in Chapter 8?

(see the answer keys)

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