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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 does Maugham meet at the police station?

2. Where does Larry go when he leaves the village?

3. Where does Larry stay during the spring?

4. Why does Maugham say Isabel kills Sophie?

5. How many days after Isabel's meeting with Maugham does she invite Larry and Sophie for lunch?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Maugham's opinion of Isabel's character?

2. How does the reader know that Isabel is still in love with Larry?

3. What does Maugham imagine about Isabel and Gray's life in Texas?

4. In what way does Maugham criticize the church?

5. How does Suzanne become a successful artist?

6. In what ways does the story end happily?

7. What is Isabel's terrible news?

8. How does Isabel react to Sophie's disappearance?

9. What reasons does Larry give for wanting to marry Sophie?

10. What is the story of Sophie's disappearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Maugham's life. In what way do you think his life and personality are reflected in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the novel's characterization. How well drawn do you think Maugham's characters are? Select one of the minor characters such as Mrs.Bradley and discuss how much you know about her background. In what ways does Maugham provide the reader with information about that character?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Indian culture. What influence has it had on America and the western world in terms of politics, arts and religion. Why would Larry go to India to find himself?

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