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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 street is nearby Ben's own street?

2. When does Ben first realize Mimi has dementia?

3. Who drives when Theo and Sarah go looking for Mimi in Part III?

4. What does Sarah feel after the car accident?

5. Of the Wilf family, who mainly decides not to talk about the accident?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben remember about how Sarah was in high school?

2. When does Ben realize Mimi is developing dementia?

3. What does Alice do after Waldo runs away?

4. What is the legend around the tree in the Wilf's front yard?

5. What do Ben and Sarah do to look for Mimi?

6. Who calls Shenkman to tell him where Waldo is?

7. What does Mimi think about Ben's temperament?

8. What does Waldo say is watching over him and Mimi?

9. What does Theo name his second restaurant that he opens?

10. When does Ben get the angriest he has been in his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Shapiro highlight the challenges women have faced in managing paid work and their responsibilities and roles as unpaid caregivers of children and aging parents throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Who decides not to speak about Theo's and Sarah's car accident, and how does this decision affect the Wilf family? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What conclusions does Shapiro seem to have her characters draw about the implications of secrets and avoidance by the end of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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