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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 decorated Bernie's apartment, according to him, when Carol comments about it?

2. Bernie says that if he were a ______________, he'd offer her a drink when she came in the door.

3. Carol tells Bernie that he's wasted at the ____________ where he currently works.

4. Carol thinks she's gotten her good looks from her _____________, and she tells him so.

5. Who does Carol say helped her track down Bernie so she could meet up with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bernie think of people who talk about living in the country, according to his own admission?

2. What does Bernie admit about his other son when he talks about him with Carol?

3. What did the boss Bernie had at the phone company do for him after the accident?

4. Why has Bernie never given anyone jewelry before this particular day?

5. What does Bernie say that he wants to offer Carol when they are meeting, but he cannot because of his new life?

6. How long has Bernie lived in his current apartment, according to his admission to Carol?

7. What do Carol and Bernie both admit to each other when they talk at the start of this scene?

8. Why does Bernie consider Carol to be lucky in her life as the two are talking with each other?

9. Why did Bernie get fired from the phone company, according to the story Bernie relates at the start of the chapter?

10. What does Bernie say about Carol again when he shrugs off the passion of the previous scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Carol admits that she's been lonely and that's why she's tried to track down Bernie.

Part 1: Why do you think Carol is suddenly lonely in her life?

Part 2: Do you think that Carol should have handled her loneliness by reaching out to a father she's never really known? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you handle loneliness? What do you do to make yourself feel better?

Essay Topic 2

Bernie points out that everything has a price, even happiness, as he talks to Carol during their visit.

Part 1: Do you agree that everything has a price? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you think happiness should come with a price tag? Why or why not?

Part 3: What do you think Bernie is trying to tell Carol about happiness? And why?

Essay Topic 3

The small talk that Bernie and Carol share works to help them both feel polite and comfortable with each other.

Part 1: Why do you think small talk is so important in society?

Part 2: How do you think Bernie and Carol should interact? Or are they doing things 'right' at the beginning?

Part 3: Why do you think people feel they have to be polite about the other's living arrangements?

(see the answer keys)

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