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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Debi recall Paul telling her in the last year of his life?
(a) He regretted cheating on Alma.
(b) He never loved Debi.
(c) He had never been so happy.
(d) He never loved Alma.

2. What does Debi's daughter write on the postcard she sent two weeks after she took off?
(a) I'm fine, don't try to find me.
(b) I'm in trouble, please help.
(c) I can't wait for you to come visit!
(d) Please send money.

3. What does Pammy ask Alma as she stares at Debi from across the street?
(a) If she knows that crazy hippie.
(b) If she wants to say hi to her old friend.
(c) If she wants her to slap Debi for what she did.
(d) If she is the one her dad had an affair with.

4. How does Debi describe her daughter when thinking "somehow she'd go stuck with the wrong kid" (7)?
(a) Uptight.
(b) Snooty.
(c) Wild.
(d) Out-there.

5. How does Debi describe Alma's face when she first sees her from across the street?
(a) Fuzzy peach.
(b) Shriveled apple.
(c) Big old prune.
(d) Sour lemon.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the age difference between Debi and the salesman from Ohio?

2. What does Debi recall her daughter learning a lot about when she was younger?

3. What did Debi use in the Mac-n-cheese for her daughter and her male friend when they had no milk?

4. When reflecting on her past, what does Debi think of "as a form of joyous overflow" (6)?

5. What did Debi's ex-lover, the salesman from Ohio, always have with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Debi surprised Alma's children pay any attention to her on Mother's Day? What did Debi see Paulie doing at Wegman's the day before Mother's Day?

2. Who is Vicky? Describe her relationship with Debi.

3. What has Debi done in her past which she admits makes her no angel?

4. How does Debi try to cope with the fact that Vicky ran away from her?

5. What does Pammy say to Alma when they first see Debi? How does Alma respond?

6. Describe the scene at Paul's gravesite a few days after his funeral.

7. Why does Debi think she should have been born in the future?

8. When did Vicky leave? Where did she go? With whom? What was the last word Debi received from her daughter?

9. What was Debi's relationship with Paul, Sr.? How does Debi feel about Paul and his behavior?

10. What happened when Vicky brought a boy name Rob over? In what way did Debi embarrass Vicky? What did Vicky do that Debi found absurd?

(see the answer keys)

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