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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 is Carrie's son's name?

2. Who is Henry's brother?

3. Where does Ava go when she leaves the Rowan in Chapter 16?

4. Who is the one person in Carrie's family who still seems to care about her?

5. Who is Sylvia's sister?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problem has Ava been struggling with for years that becomes apparent in Chapter 3?

2. How does Sylvia feel about her son in-law, Henry?

3. What kinds of things does Sylvia encourage Marcus to do?

4. How does Ava react to seeing Henry's son for the first time when she comes across him in Walmart in Chapter 15?

5. What does JJ always call Sylvia?

6. What kind of memories does Sylvia have about her own childhood?

7. Where does Ava reveal the most personal details of her anguish over her infertility?

8. What was the original purpose of Development Drive, where Sylvia's house is?

9. What happens between Henry and the fortune-teller in New Orleans in Chapter 5?

10. How does Sylvia respond to JJ when he tells her he still has feelings for Ava?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing why Sylvia decides to go to Charlotte's house on Marcus's behalf in Chapter 35 even after she lost her nerve the first time.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Ava choose to share her deepest pain and anxiety about her infertility with strangers in online forums? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the quote, “Every town has a section where the people are rich and their lives so far from yours you almost expect them to speak another tongue” (2). Write an essay analyzing why JJ Ferguson's return to Pinewood, North Carolina and his construction of his mansion is so significant to the town's residents, exploring the emotions this event unleashes. Cite specific references to the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 581 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample