View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What expression does Sara use to express what she expects of Tess?

2. What does Gorgeous say about Geoffrey's friends when she first encounters Merv?

3. What delegation is Geoffrey expecting?

4. Whose birthday is to be celebrated?

5. What does Sara say she is grateful for as she makes a brief speech in Act 1, Scene 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sara believe men's perceptions of her are, and how does Merv seem to perceive her?

2. What do we learn about the time setting of this play in Act 1, Sceen 3, and what indicates that?

3. Why might Tess being doing her school project at the opening of Act 1, Scene 1?

4. How does Sara appear to deal with her feelings?

5. What is learned about the unseen mother of the three sisters in Act 1, Scene 2?

6. What are some of the things learned about Sara's surgery and her feelings about it?

7. What is represented by Sara's rejection of the statue of Shiva?

8. How does Sara act toward Merv in Act 1, Scene 2?

9. What does Gorgeous appear to be interested in?

10. What is represented by Pfeni's traveling with shopping bags and how is this indicated in Act 1, Scene 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A theme of familial expectations runs through the play. The character of Rita appears to have had expectations for her daughters. Sara has expectations for Tess that her daughter rebels against. Discuss familial expectations and how those expectations are either fulfilled or altered during the course of the play.

Essay Topic 2

Each sister is transformed in some way by the events that occur during the course of the play. Discuss each sister in turn, and how she is transformed.

Essay Topic 3

Middle age is an important element to the play. Pfeni and her sisters are all circling that particular juncture of life. Discuss the importance of the middle age years in relation to the characters. Specifically, discuss Merv's reference to his wife dying just as she was coming into her own. How might that idea (fear of death at middle age) impact the decisions and choices each sister is making?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 766 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample