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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. Where is Cassie's mother from before the family moves to Maine?

2. Where was Cassie supposed to go with a class before Alex arranged for her sabbatical?

3. Why did 10-year-old Cassie have a snow fight with her mother?

4. What does the unnamed woman believe has happened to her when she wakes up with no memory in Chapter One?

5. What is chiseled into the pink rock that Cassie has under a boxwood hedge of her Bel-Air mansion?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Alex express his loving feeling for Cassie?

2. What expectations does the Algonquin legend put in place for the novel?

3. Why does Alex's wardrobe reduce Cassie to tears in Chapter Five?

4. What role does Herb Silver play in Chapter Three?

5. What is Alex's relationship with his father like?

6. How does Alex view himself?

7. How do Jane and William get to know each other better in Chapter Two?

8. How does Cassie feel towards Alex when he first takes her back to their Malibu apartment in Chapter Four?

9. Why are Herb and Alex surprised at Cassie's angry outburst?

10. Why do the words, "It is a good day to die" occur to Cassie in Chapter Five?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Native American legends included in the novel are used to imply, predict, foreshadow or point out contrasting elements at different times.

1) Select one legend in the novel that you feel does the best job of foreshadowing events to come and offer specifics to support your answer.

2) Explain why the author chose to incorporate these legends instead of making her point another way.

3) Do the legends portray Native Americans in a positive or negative light? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Cassie's amnesia allows her to view Alex from the perspective of someone who's never met him before, that is, until her memory returns. Yet she follows the same patterns of behavior as she did before and accepts her abuse until she realizes that he might hurt her unborn child.

1) Is Cassie destined to find herself in an abusive relationship due to her childhood?

2) What benefit does she gain from their relationship?

3) Will she be able to have a meaningful relationship with Will?

Support your answers with specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

Alex uses multiple personas to get through life in a way that looks good to his audience.

1) At what points in Picture Perfect do you think that Alex is truly being himself rather than acting a role?

2) Why does Alex cease going to the therapy sessions with Cassie?

3) Does anyone else in the story seem to realize that Alex is always putting on an act? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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