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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 is the name of the horse Vivian rides?

2. What city is the hospital Vivian works at located in?

3. In Chapter 6, what does Vivian tell Malcolm about how she feels about her job?

4. In Chapter 5, what does Malcolm ask Vivian to do with him on the spur of the moment?

5. In Chapter 5, what does Malcolm do after he stops the car on their way back to Sandringham?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 2, what question does Vivian ask Malcolm that is very forward and has to do with race?

2. How does it come to pass that Malcolm Hudson gives Vivian a tour of Sandringham Estate?

3. In Chapter 4, what is the phrase both Malcolm and the Queen use to compliment Vivian's riding?

4. In Chapter 2, what is difficult for Vivian to get used to as she walks around Sandringham Estate with Malcolm and why?

5. In Chapter 4, why does Malcolm tell Vivian he learned to ride horses as an adult?

6. Why does Maddie tell Vivian she never takes enough time for herself in Chapter 1?

7. In Chapter 5, what kind of conversation do Vivian and Malcolm engage in, and about, as they look at their menus at lunch?

8. Why does Maddie ask Vivian to come to England with her for Christmas, and not her boyfriend Theo?

9. In Chapter 1, why are there often fires in the bedrooms at Sycamore Cottage, and what happened when the Duchess tried to use electric space heaters?

10. In Chapter 1, what big news does Vivian tell Maddie on the car ride to Sandringham?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why has Vivian chosen to keep her romantic life mostly secret from her daughter Maddie from a young age? Why do you think Vivian persists in keeping this part of her life secret from Maddie even now that Maddie is an adult? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay discussing Guillory's tone, style, and language throughout the novel, noting the characters, scenes, and situations in which she departs from her prevailing use of each. (For instance, Guillory uses profane language sparingly, so when she does, it has a more potentially dramatic effect on the reader). Cite specific references to the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Malcolm and Vivian get along extremely well and amicably for two people who have known each other for such a short period of time, but they still experience their share of conflict and misunderstandings. Write an essay exploring the sources of Malcolm's and Vivian's most serious conflicts during their relationship.

(see the answer keys)

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