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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. As the novel begins, Yao is called to help a woman named whom?

2. Where does Frances live?

3. How did Frances and Paul Drabble meet?

4. What is the name of Tony's dog, who recently died?

5. As the retreat begins, which guests pose the biggest mystery to Masha?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the reader learn about Zach's death in Chapter 26? Why does Napoleon blame himself?

2. What does the reader learn about Carmel's background in Chapter 21?

3. Why is Tony famous?

4. Who is Zach and what does the reader learn about him in Chapter 12?

5. Who is Paul Drabble and what does the reader learn about him in Chapter 8?

6. What happens when Frances and Tony are at the pool together?

7. What does the reader learn about Heather in Chapter 10?

8. Frances is concerned to see what happen during their morning hike in Chapter 17?

9. Masha keeps receiving emails from which person? How does she respond?

10. Who is Alain and what does he tell Frances? How does she react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Paul Drabble and what role does he play in Frances’s development? How would her development change (or not) had Drabble not been included in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Helen Keller once wrote, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Explain how the characters of Frances and Masha illustrate Keller’s words.

Essay Topic 3

Frances finds herself involved in several conflicts over the course of the novel. Choose one instance of internal conflict and one instance of external conflict, and explain how these conflicts have an impact on the story and the characters involved.

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