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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 Yao gives her a tour of Tranquillum House, Frances is disconcerted to learn that what happens everyday during the retreat?

2. As she drove to Tranquillum House, Frances reflected that she should have been traveling to what city?

3. During her counseling session with Frances, Masha asks if Frances had ever been properly what?

4. As she drives to Tranquillum House, Frances begins experiencing pain where?

5. What inspired Masha to leave the Soviet Union?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What factors cause Frances to have a meltdown on the way to Tranquillum House?

4. Who is the director of Tranquillum House? How has she been transformed?

5. What information does Masha learn about Carmel in Chapter 24?

6. In Chapter 28, whom does Heather remember seeing in the hospital cafeteria? How did she react?

7. Why is Tony famous?

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

9. What is Ben concerned about his car as he arrives at Tranquillum House?

10. What happened to Yao following the events of Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Appearances in the novel can be deceiving. How do appearances differ from reality in this novel? Discuss three characters and how this idea applies to each.

Essay Topic 3

At one point in the novel, Masha wants the guests to consider the koan “Show me your original face, the one you had before your parents were born” (132). Discuss the meaning of this koan and how it might apply to two characters in the novel.

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