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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. In Chapter 9, what kind of restaurant does Malcolm take Vivian to?

2. In Chapter 8, what is different about Vivian's Christmas morning in Sycamore Cottage from every other Christmas morning she has had for years?

3. In Chapter 8, what is Maddie doing on Christmas morning?

4. In Chapter 7, what British Christmas tradition does Vivian take part in at the dinner table for the first time?

5. In Chapter 7, what does Vivian lose that Malcolm finds for her?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 7, why is Julia Pepper, the chef, happy about cooking for the staff for Christmas Eve dinner?

2. In Chapter 8, what causes the argument between Malcolm and Miles on Christmas Day?

3. In Chapter 10, how does Vivian feel in the morning waking up in her hotel in London next to Malcolm?

4. In Chapter 12, what does Vivian tell Malcolm about her first impression of his nephew Miles?

5. In Chapter 10, how does Malcolm explain his strange behavior from his first day in London with Vivian to her?

6. In Chapter 10, what is Vivian immediately impressed with when she walks into Malcolm's apartment for the first time?

7. In Chapter 10, what is Vivian mortified to have forgotten for her first night with Malcolm?

8. In Chapter 8, how does Maddie suggest she and Vivian handle telling people at home that Vivian will be staying in London for a few days longer?

9. In Chapter 7, what happens when Julia catches Malcolm and Vivian passionately kissing under the misletoe?

10. In Chapter 8, what does Miles say to Malcolm during their argument that is particularly hurtful to Malcolm?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter Eight, what does Miles say to Malcolm in anger that resonate in the most hurtful ways for Malcolm during their fight about Malcolm's decision to go to art school instead of to Oxford? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the most important ways in which Malcolm is different from almost all the other men Vivian has dated in her life? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support them.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Guillory's handling of descriptive sex scenes in the novel, like those in Chapter Ten, between two characters (Vivian and Malcolm) who are well into middle age.

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