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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 does Kate say she's going to make Dr. Cohn for Christmas?

2. What color is the apron Kate is wearing when Kate begins to make lunch?

3. How does Ellen make the trip back to Langhorne?

4. What does Kate say the book club will do after they complete the book they're working on?

5. What was Ellen's class rank among her high school class?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Kate say she prefers to do things from scratch rather than buying them, such as buying canned chicken broth? What is Ellen's response?

2. In the prologue, what does Ellen say is the truth about her mother's death?

3. Briefly describe the conversation that occurs as Kate and her guests try to decide on a color scheme for decorating the Christmas trees?

4. What are the reactions of Brian and Jeff to their mother's appearance when they come home for Thanksgiving?

5. What is the final thing George says to Ellen before she leaves the restaurant where they'd met for lunch and what is her response?

6. What does Ellen expect she'll find with regard to her mother's physical condition and what does she actually find?

7. How did Jonathan and his father come to live in Langhorne?

8. What questions does Ellen ask about the organization of the book club and what does Kate respond?

9. Describe Kate's role in the early days of her marriage to George.

10. What does Ellen say about putting the futon into her mother's home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the most important scene in the book? Why? Why is that scene effective? Which is more important to that scene: the action or the setting? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Ellen and her mother are, in many ways, opposites. Compare the characters and Ellen and Kate. What are their most striking differences? Similarities? How and why do their characters change over the course of the story?

Essay Topic 3

What are the "Minnies?" What is Kate's role in this group? Why is the group important to Kate? What is the reaction of the group's members after Kate's diagnosis? Why do they react this way? Is this typical?

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