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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 and Teresa were laughing about while Ellen was downstairs?

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

3. How often does Kate go to the hospital for chemotherapy?

4. What is the snack Ellen makes that she says her mother frequently made for them as children?

5. Which of the following is NOT among the possessions Ellen brings back from New York?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ellen say about the way people greeted Ellen and Kate?

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

3. How does Ellen discover that her father is having an affair?

4. List at least three details Ellen recalls about the hospital where her mother was given chemotherapy.

5. What is the difference between the bedtime songs sang by Ellen's mother and those of her father, and what is their effect on Ellen?

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

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

8. What is Ellen's reaction to Jonathan's news when he calls her?

9. 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?

10. What are some of the noises Ellen hears while she's in jail?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Kate's reaction the first time she sees the wheelchair? Why does she react in this way? Why does she later accept the wheelchair? What does Ellen do to "decorate" the chair for the trip to decorate the Christmas tree? What is the reaction of the other women? Why do they react in that way? Later a little girl named Hattie compliments Kate on the wheelchair but her father reprimands her. Why?

Essay Topic 2

Kate doesn't want to have to have Ellen's help with personal hygiene such as bathing and dressing. Explain Kate's attitude. When the time comes that Kate has to call on Ellen to help her out of the bath, Ellen does so without complaint. Why is Kate reluctant to call on her routinely after that? What does Ellen say about how their relationship would change at that point? Is she correct?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Ellen's relationship with her mother, her father and her siblings. Who among these is she closer to? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 842 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample