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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 organic chemical(s) is contained in the beauty product Claire wishes Catherine to try?

2. What does Claire make Catherine for breakfast?

3. Where did Catherine get the dress she wore to the funeral?

4. Who apologizes to whom about the events from the night before? (i.e., the fight, the 9-1-1 call, and the attempted theft)?

5. What is the lighting direction at the end of the scene?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Catherine demand to see Hal's backpack? Does she find anything?

2. Robert was a graphomaniac. What does that mean?

3. How does Catherine describe Robert's mathematical processes?

4. Describe how Catherine treats the police when they arrive.

5. What does Claire plan to do with the house?

6. Who did Claire want to care for Robert during his illness, and who actually cared for him?

7. How is Claire's personality different from Catherine's?

8. Why has Hal come to the house?

9. Does Hal think he will still have the next great mathematical revelation?

10. Describe Catherine's reaction when she discovers the notebook.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Catherine is angry and upset when Hal steals the notebook. She goes so far as to call the police, though he confesses as soon as she finds it and claims he wanted to give it back to her as a gift.

1.) Though he may have been planning to give it back, Hal attempted to steal on of her late father's possessions. Does Catherine overreact in this situation?

2.) What does Catherine think he may be trying to do with the information in the notebook?

Essay Topic 2

PROOF is a play, not a novel, and is meant to be viewed and performed in front of an audience. Discuss the structure of the play and why or why not it is effective.

1.) What do you think an audience is meant to take away from the play? What major elements of the play make it different from a novel?

2.) Did you notice a difference between reading the play by yourself and hearing it read aloud?

3.) How do stage directions play a role in understanding the play?

Essay Topic 3

Hal feels some sort of a connection to Catherine. When she is catatonic in bed, he insists to Claire that Catherine may talk to him.

1.) What events my have led Hal to feel more connected with Catherine?

2.) Could he feel guilty and somewhat responsible for her breakdown?

3.) Is Hal a victim of circumstance, or could he have handled the situation more graciously?

(see the answer keys)

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