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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 does Malcolm compliment Vivian on about the way she rides the horse?

2. Which family member does Vivian help look after?

3. What very basic question does Vivian ask the Queen's private secretary about his job in Chapter 2?

4. In Chapter 3, who does Vivian text back home to check to see if that person is doing OK in her absence?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. In Chapter 2, what does Malcolm tell Vivian his main job is?

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

6. In Chapter 2, what does Vivian tell Malcolm she thinks is funny about the way the royal family names it houses and structures?

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

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

9. In Chapter 2, what does Malcolm as Vivian to do as a special outing the following day?

10. In Chapter 1, what does Vivian briefly worry about before she goes down to the kitchen for breakfast on her first day at Sycamore Cottage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How would you describe Vivian's and Maddie's parent-child relationship dynamics? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing how Vivian chooses to deal with her initial uncertainty about how the staff at Frogmore Cottage might feel about serving her, a middle-aged, middle-class black American woman.

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)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample