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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 thinks Robert should have been put in professional care?

2. Why does Claire want Catherine to come to New York?

3. What is Catherine's relation to Robert?

4. At the beginning of the scene, what does Hal bring for Catherine to drink?

5. What is Claire's relationship to Catherine?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Are Claire and Catherine very comfortable around one another?

3. What is Hal's song Imaginary Number?

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

5. Who is Sophie Germain?

6. Why is Claire so worried when Catherine cannot explain the police presence at the house the night before?

7. When did Hal and Catherine first meet?

8. Who paid off the mortgage on the house? How?

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

10. What does Catherine give to Hal that morning? Where has Catherine been keeping the object ?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of students in bookstores for Robert. When does the audience first hear it from Robert? What is the significance of the second time the audience hears Robert talk about students and bookstores? What are the implications for Robert as a teacher?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contract Catherine and Claire. Though they are sisters, they have very different personalities.

1.) How did Claire want Robert's illness handled? How did Catherine want it handled?

2.) What pressure does Claire feel in regards to her family? What pressure does Catherine feel?

3.) How and why does Claire's intervention in her life offend Catherine?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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