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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. What indicates a close relationship between John and his aunt?

2. Who did John like to be when he was a child?

3. To whom was Kate, Jack's cousin, once engaged?

4. What ails John's brother, Lonnie?

5. What does John conceal from Sharon?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is John excited to see and why?

2. What important decision does John make that turns out to be a good idea?

3. What is John searching for as the novel begins?

4. Why is Aunt Emily so upset about Kate, her stepdaughter?

5. How does John feel about Walter, Kate's fiance?

6. What is John nervous about on the car ride to the Golf Coast?

7. What important question does John ask Kate in this chapter?

8. What becomes clear about John and Kate's relationship?

9. Where does John live?

10. The novel opens with John receiving some bad news. What is it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While the women in John's life obviously make demands of him, the men seem to impose little on John. What is the deeper connection between John and the following characters:

- Lonnie

- John's father

- Harold

Essay Topic 2

1. Examine the friendship that Kate and John have before they are married.

2. Does their relationship ever turn physical before they get married? Do you think the fact that they lack a physical relationship will cause their relationship to fail?

3. How does the relationship change after Kate and John are married. Describe their new relationship.

Essay Topic 3

The women in the novel constantly interfere with John's life. Explain how each woman attempts to change John's ways:

- Kate

- John's mother

- Aunt Emily

- Sharon

(see the answer keys)

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