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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 the name of the exterminator's company in Chapter 5?

2. Why is Michael so late for the event he is supposed to take Ria to in Chapter 6?

3. What does Ria accuse Melissa of doing with her things in Chapter 3?

4. What kind of birth experience does Melissa want to have for her second child?

5. Who comes to the door to interrupt Melissa's work in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Melissa and Michael know the Wiley brothers?

2. What is Melissa and Michael's address and why is this significant?

3. Why do the Wiley brothers throw a party in Chapter 1?

4. What does Damian suggest to Michael that might be wrong with Melissa in Chapter 7?

5. What does Michael find himself doing that he knows is a bad idea at the end of Chapter 4 because he is frustrated and lonely?

6. How did the Crystal Palace meet its ruin?

7. What does Michael end up talking to Rachel, the receptionist at his office, about in Chapter 6?

8. At Ria's school's cultural night, who steals the show?

9. What does Ria often wear that is first mentioned in Chapter 3?

10. What was Michael hoping would happen to revitalize his and Melissa's relationship after the Wiley's party in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel opens with a party in London celebrating the 2008 U.S. presidential election of Barack Obama. Write an essay analyzing how Evans explains the relevance of Obama's election to the U.S. presidency through her characters in Chapter 1, who are living in London.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring the positive and negative consequences of Michael's and Melissa's breakup for each of the characters, citing specific references to the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay comparing and contrasting the problems in Michael's and Melissa's relationship with the problems in Damian's and Stephanie's relationship.

(see the answer keys)

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