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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Irene does not tell Brian about bumping into Bellew because
(a) She thinks it is meaningless.
(b) She is not sure why it happened.
(c) It might serve as a warning to him.
(d) She is embarrassed.

2. Brian demands that Irene not
(a) Divert him from complaining about his job.
(b) Molly-coddle their son.
(c) Talk to him so much.
(d) Talk of sex at the table.

3. Soon after Helga is well enough to be out of bed
(a) She prays for redemption.
(b) She rejects Green's advances.
(c) She begins to give birth to her fifth child.
(d) She packs up to leave.

4. Brian's comments about sex being a joke indicate that
(a) He sees the humor in the jokes.
(b) He and Irene don't have much of a sex life.
(c) He is happy with his marriage.
(d) He thinks sex is hilarious.

5. John Bellew enters Felise's apartment in a state of
(a) Resolve.
(b) Hilarity.
(c) Panic.
(d) Rage.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Clare's aunts do to her?

2. Irene attributes Brian's complete withdrawal to

3. Clementine Richards thinks Helga does not

4. Irene's response to Clare's letter is that she

5. The time spent without Clare in the picture

Short Essay Questions

1. What do we learn about the marriage of Irene and Brian Redfield in this chapter? Is it healthy? Is it durable? Why, or why not?

2. What kind of parent is Clare Kendry? What are the clues, thus far, that help us to draw conclusions about her parenting abilities? How has Larsen informed us about this?

3. What do we know about Clare Kendry from her letter to Irene? What do we know about her from this chapter?

4. Hugh Wentworth, the white author, comes back into the story during the afternoon tea scene. What is Wentworth's role? Is he a true friend to Irene? To Clare?

5. During a period while Clare is gone, is there peace in the Redfield home? Why, or why not?

6. What is it that has kept Clare from leaving her husband and living permanently in Harlem?

7. Is there anything we can deduce about Irene's response to Clare's letter without knowing the whole story? If so, what are they?

8. Things have taken a turn for the worse at the Redfields'. What are the clues that the story is inching toward a conclusion as it pertains to the Redfields and Clare Kendry? What conclusions can we draw about this section of the story?

9. Why do you suppose Clare is pushing herself so rigorously to get involved in Irene's life? Why has she not chosen, for instance, Gertrude, to reacquaint her with the black culture? What is the particular attraction to Irene?

10. Discuss how giving birth to her fourth child seems to be Helga's breaking point. Why does this happen? What does the death of her infant symbolize?

(see the answer keys)

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