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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 Melissa make for dinner for her guests in Chapter 3?

2. What does Michael talk with Rachel about in Chapter 6 that delays his commute home?

3. Who runs the class that Melissa takes Blake to in Chapter 5?

4. Which childcare author and expert does Melissa try to follow the advice of?

5. What does Melissa tell Michael to take care of at the end of Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. What is the short poem that begins the novel about, and who wrote it?

3. What does Melissa do with Blake in Chapter 5 that she absolutely hates?

4. Why does Mrs. Jackson need help in Chapter 3?

5. Before having her second child, where did Melissa work and what did she do?

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

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

8. What does Hazel offer for Melissa in order to try to help her and Michael?

9. When does Melissa start to notice Hazel's eyes glazing over in Chapter 7?

10. What does Blake do in Chapter 5 that makes Melissa uneasy in their house as she is changing him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Justin's death reveal about the nature of city living, and what kinds of differences of opinions between Michael and Melissa does Justin's death bring to the surface? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 2

How is the middle-aged woman who performs the Greek dance at Ria's school's annual cultural night different from Michael, Melissa, Stephanie, and Damian? What does the woman, and her joyful, free dancing, represent? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the reasons Melissa feels so angry, upset, and discontented with her life as the primary caregiver for her two young children.

(see the answer keys)

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