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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 word does the vicar use to describe Rachel?

2. Where is Don buried?

3. What skill does Rachel have that endears her to the tenants of the estate?

4. Who is at the house when Philip returns from seeing the attorney about giving Rachel the estate?

5. What does Philip say he did as a child when he was in church?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Philip avoid seeing his godfather after Christmas?

2. Why does Philip say that the people at church will be so interested in Rachel?

3. Nick Kendall tells Philip that people he knows were horrified to learn that Ambrose was marrying Rachel. Why were they horrified?

4. Why did Ambrose not punish Philip for bringing mice to church with him when he was a boy?

5. What made the relationship between Philip and Nick Kendall "cool" after Christmas?

6. What does Rachel do that makes Philip tease her that she will become a midwife?

7. After the Sunday dinner guests leave, what does Rachel say she likes about entertaining?

8. What does Philip say is the difference between Mrs. Pascoe's femininity and Rachel's femininity?

9. What excuse does Philip give for Rachel having overdrawn her account?

10. Why does Philip put his muddy feet up on the footstool while Rachel tells him about her visits?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how Philip’s views of marriage change from the beginning of the book until the end. What causes him to change his mind about getting married? Are his expectations of marriage realistic? What is his opinion of marriage after his time with Rachel has concluded?

Essay Topic 2

Philip’s inexperience with women leads him into awkward and sometimes dangerous situations with the women in his life. Write an essay explaining how Philip’s inexperience with women and love puts him in a position to be used by women.

Essay Topic 3

The author explores how women are perceived by others. She uses both Rachel and Louise to explore this idea. Explain how the author uses Rachel and Louise to examine the perception of women and how the way others perceive them affects the plot of the novel.

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