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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 is the son of Don Achille that is in the school competition in Childhood: Chapter 8?

2. Whose old carpenter shop has been transformed into a grocery in Adolescence: Chapter 7?

3. What is the name of Carmela Peluso's older brother?

4. How are Elena's grades at the end of the school year in Adolescence: Chapter 9?

5. What business does the Cerullo family run in the narrative?

Short Essay Questions

1. What new characters are introduced in Adolescence: Chapters 7 and 8? How are they described?

2. What exposition does the author reveal in the Prologue and Chapters 1-3?

3. How does the onset of adolescence affect both Lila and Elena?

4. How does Elena's first menstruation influence her relationship with Lila?

5. What is foreshadowed by the attentions paid to Lila during the outing in the city in Adolescence: Chapter 16?

6. What is foreshadowed by Lila's newfound obsession with shoemaking in Adolescence: Chapters 4-6?

7. What is discovered when Lila's mother is called to school in Childhood: Chapter 6? Why is this significant?

8. How would you describe Elena's behavior toward Rino in the phone calls in the Prologue and Chapters 1-3?

9. What book do Lila and Elena purchase with the money from Don Achille in Childhood: Chapter 15? How does the book influence them?

10. How does Lila respond to jealousies over Elena in Adolescence: Chapters 3 and 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the shoes that Lila and Rino design and create. What do the shoes represent symbolically for these characters in the novel? What do they represent to Elena and to the other characters? What is the significance of the appearance of the shoes in the end of the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the political ideals that are explored and discussed in My Brilliant Friend. How would you define Communism and Fascism? What are the history of these political ideals in Italy? How do they reflect upon the characters in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Carmela Peluso. When does Carmela become friends with Lila and Elena? How would you characterize her personality and actions? How does Carmela's friendship affect the friendship between Lila and Elena?

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