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 does Lizabeth do when she thinks that the entire neighborhood considers her to be a loose woman?

2. What office is Lizabeth's ex-husband running for?

3. Matt tells Billy that something destroyed the kitchen. What was it?

4. What does Matt say he is going to do with the rest of the money he had set aside?

5. What does Matt ask Lizabeth to do in return for helping her exercise?

Short Essay Questions

1. What agreement is struck between Matt and Lizabeth after their jog, and why do you think Matt's purpose is in entering into that agreement?

2. The reader learns more about Matt's childhood in Chapter 9 than throughout the rest of the book. Was his childhood happy? What happened to his mother? Describe his childhood relationship with his father.

3. Lizabeth comes to terms with the fact that she was wrong about Matt and his profession. What is this revelation, and how does it change her opinion about him?

4. What are the preconceptions Lizabeth has about Matt as a role model for her children that give her pause? Why do you think she is so concerned with those preconceptions?

5. A comic moment takes place in Chapter 8 when Matt tackles the man he thinks is the flasher. Why did Matt tackle the man, and who is he?

6. In the Epilogue, what does Matt do to complete Lizabeth's happiness?

7. What makes "Smitten" a typical romance novel?

8. When Lizabeth and Matt finally get home from their jog at 2 a.m., they find Elsie and the boys in the front yard. Describe their time with Paul. What was the end result?

9. Lizabeth seems to have many preconceived notions about what a perfect father should be. In her mind, Matt falls short in several of these categories. What does she say in Chapter 7 that expresses these notions and where Matt falls short?

10. In fairly typical romance-novel fashion, the story wraps up with Matt and Lizabeth marrying and living happily ever after. Given the short time they've known each other and the tumultuous relationship they have had up to that point, how believable do you find the story? If you find it quite believable, why? What is it about the genre that makes it so popular, and how does that apply to this book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many modern novels have a target audience -- women, children, men, students, etc. At which demographic do you think this novel is aimed? Why? Do you think that this genre in general is aimed at that particular audience? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Matt's motorcycle is huge and shiny, and it terrifies Lizabeth. This item is heavy with symbolism. What does it represent and why?

Essay Topic 3

The relationship between Matt and Lizabeth develops rather quickly, almost suddenly. The spark and heat between the characters is described almost immediately. Why do you think the author chose to move so quickly into the development of a physical relationship before the growth of an emotional relationship? Do you think she is advocating a love-at-first-sight approach? Why or why not? What purpose does this serve for the story line?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,255 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample