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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. In "Widows," Nell refuses which analogy for grief?

2. In "Death by Clamshell," how is Hypatia killed?

3. When the snails says: "spare me! I am part of an ecosystem," (172) that is an example of what?

4. In "Wooden Box," what strangely appears on Tig?

5. In "Freeforall," what color are the veils?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the Freeforall and who are the people in it?

2. What did Brig do in his youth?

3. Explain the significance of marmalade making?

4. What duty must Tom preform and what are his options after having fulfilled it?

5. What trap is Inspector Maigret setting and what does Nell think about it?

6. How does Amber/Snail’s interaction with the therapist go?

7. How does Hypatia feel about the way she is represented in art?

8. What does twenty-three skidoo mean?

9. What happens when Nell and Tig decide to stay in the cabin over March?

10. What does Nell not want Stevie to do about her belief that Tig is not really gone and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Selecting any of the short stories in the collection, write an essay describing a moment where information was omitted or downplayed. Why was this information left out/downplayed and what did it reveal about the characters and/or story?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about why understanding the setting of “Two Scorched Men” is crucial for understanding the story’s meaning. How do you believe the story is shaped by the context of World War II?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how the title of any of Atwood’s short stories helps illustrate their meaning. Explain how her choice of diction, humor, or subject guides the reader in a purposeful direction.

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