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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. Who does Keith Landry find in his house?

2. Where did Keith Landry work for many years?

3. Who is Billy Marlon?

4. What do the people Keith Landry visits tell him about what he apologizes for?

5. What does the warning say?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Annie's departure from Keith Landry's house.

2. What is the state of Annie Baxter's relationship with Keith Landry at the beginning of the novel?

3. How does Cliff Baxter try to get information on Keith Landry?

4. Describe the conflict that is being brewed as Keith Landry spends more time in Spencerville--and how it seems likely to be settled.

5. What does Keith Landry ultimately do with his car?

6. Why does Keith Landry decide to leave town?

7. Describe the relationship between Annie and Cliff Baxter.

8. What are Keith Landry's feelings as we meet him?

9. What is Keith Landry's relationship with Billy Marlon?

10. What is Keith Landry invited to do at the dinner he has at the Porter household?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How American is Spencerville? What makes it American? What makes it something else? How does this novel embody Americanness?

Essay Topic 2

How realistic is this book? What parts are not believable? What leaps of faith does the author require of the reader?

Essay Topic 3

What does the relationship between Cliff Baxter and his wife show us about Annie's personality? How do you account for the violence of Annie's relationship with Cliff Baxter? What led her from Keith Landry to Cliff Baxter--or, how did she permit the transformation that turned Cliff Baxter from someone she could respect into someone who terrorized her?

(see the answer keys)

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