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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 Rachel's brother's boyfriend's profession?

2. One of the union workers in Southeast Asia calls Bud a black sheep of his family. What animal does Bud refer to himself as?

3. Who does Apsara become engaged to?

4. Which character from the novel's previous chapters does Bud meet?

5. After Bud quits his job, who does he think he sees on 5th Avenue, window shopping around Christmas time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Nadia and Rachel first meet Ethan, Kirk's new boyfriend.

2. How does Rachel describe the personality of the nickname "Sister Susie," which Kirk fondly calls her?

3. What does Bud learn about from his childhood friendship with Sally?

4. Why does Frankie, Tara's mother, turn down Gil's marriage proposal when they are 19?

5. How does Rachel react to the news that her brother's boyfriend, Kirk, is making him leave his apartment?

6. After Matthew gets his job at Devils Postpile National Monument, what do he and Frankie argue about?

7. By the end of Chapter 4, how does Rachel feel about her brother moving back in with Kirk and now Ethan?

8. How does Bud describe his relationship with Sally?

9. After his medical treatments, what does Saul do when he arrives back home?

10. What idea does Bud come up with for temporary employment while living at Lizzie's apartment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay explaining what you think the meaning of life and the secrets to happiness are based on your analysis of 2-3 characters from the novel. Use their understanding about happiness to challenge or build upon your own ideas about life and happiness.

Essay Topic 2

Write a essay analyzing the title of the novel, Secrets of Happiness. Explain how different, key themes in the novel underscore the title of the book, allowing readers to discover what Silber suggests are the true secrets to a happy, meaningful life.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how Maribel and Schuyler were similar. How did money bring them together yet bring conflict to their relationship?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 841 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample