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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 old was Philip when he came to live with Ambrose?

2. Where did Philip go to university?

3. What does the servant at the villa tell Philip has been done with Ambrose's clothes?

4. How old is Don?

5. What was the name of the hanged man?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rachel do that impresses Philip while she and Philip are out riding the estate?

2. What reason does Philip give Rachel for not hating her now that he has met her?

3. Why did Ambrose start travelling during the winter months?

4. Why was Rachel jealous of Philip when Ambrose was alive?

5. Why does Philip think Rainaldi looked shocked when they first met?

6. What does Rainaldi tell Philip the doctors said was the cause of Ambrose's strange behavior before his death?

7. What does Philip intend to do when Rachel comes to see him?

8. Why does Louise say that Philip must have the house cleaned up before Rachel visits?

9. Why does Rachel wear only one color of gown?

10. Why does Philip feel ashamed of his feelings when Ambrose wrote to say he was engaged?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay discussing good and evil in the novel. How does the author challenge the reader’s notion of what is good and evil? In the end, which of the characters is good and which is evil?

Essay Topic 2

Explain why the author begins the book with the story of Philip seeing the hanged man and why she refers back to it in the final chapter. What does the hanged man have to do with Philip’s experience with Rachel? What does the author hope to convey to the reader through the hanged man and Philip’s reaction to him?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining Rainaldi as a character. How does the author use him to reveal information about Rachel and Philip? How do his visits to England affect the plot? What is the true relationship between Rachel and Rainaldi?

(see the answer keys)

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