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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. Who will be in danger if Irene speaks up to John Bellew?

2. When the woman stares at Irene at the hotel, what does Irene fear the woman is thinking about her?

3. Who comes into the room when Irene is still reading Clare's letter?

4. To whom is Gertrude married?

5. To what city does Irene plan to travel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Irene's intention in bring up Junior's problems?

2. Why did Irene's father keep it from Irene that Clare was passing for white?

3. When does Irene decide to write Clare back? How has she decided to respond?

4. Whom else did Clare invite along when she meets Irene? What do Clare and the other guest have in common?

5. How does Brian respond to Irene's concerns about Junior?

6. What made it easy for Clare to pass as white?

7. Where does Irene ask Brian to drive her to? What business does she intend to take care of?

8. What biased talk offends Irene when she meets with Clare and Gertrude?

9. Where does Irene travel to the day after her meeting with Clare? How does Irene first respond to Clare's note?

10. When did Clare disappear from the Chicago neighborhood where she and Irene lived?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are physical descriptions of Irene and Clare? What indications are there that both women are light-skinned?

Essay Topic 2

Summarize Part 2, Chapter 1 which introduces Irene's husband Brian into the story.

a) What strong feelings does Brian have on "passing"?

b) What advice does he give Irene about Clare?

c) What conflict exists between Irene and Brian?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss what Irene contemplates as a way to save her marriage.

a) What does Irene think of telling John about Clare?

b) How would John respond to what Irene would tell him?

c) Why does Irene change her mind about taking with John?

(see the answer keys)

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