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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What caused the death of John and Arlene?
(a) A plague of locusts.
(b) A freight train hit them head on while they were driving across the trestle bridge.
(c) Drinking John's potato liquor.
(d) Broken hearts, when Arlene left for the East.

2. When Marvin is leaving Hagar, a nurse comments that Hagar's heart keeps on going. In response, what comment does Marvin make to the nurse about his mother?
(a) She is a "holy terror."
(b) She is my little June bug.
(c) She loves the Lord.
(d) She takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

3. When it is clear that Bram is dying, Marvin comes to visit him. Hagar overhears Marvin tell Bram something that she wishes she could also say to Bram. What is it?
(a) Go to hell.
(b) I am sorry.
(c) We will be fine.
(d) You are important to me.

4. In the beginning of Chapter 8, who is the man who enters the room where Hagar sits?
(a) Soldier.
(b) Marvin.
(c) Murray Ferney Lees.
(d) Telford Simmons.

5. How does Hagar try to comfort Sandra, her roommate in the hospital, about her upcoming surgery to remove her appendix?
(a) Tells her "chin up little camper."
(b) Tells her there is nothing to worry about.
(c) Tells her to get up and leave the hospital, she'll be fine.
(d) Tells her the doctor is a pro at taking an appendix out.

Short Answer Questions

1. Upon her arrival at Jess' house, with the box labeled "Clara Shipley", who does Hagar find talking to Jess?

2. What does Hagar find when she is cleaning the attic?

3. When Hagar wakes up, at the beginning of Chapter 9, who does she see?

4. At the hospital, when Hagar isn't allowed to get up and go to the bathroom by herself, what is her comment?

5. What do Hagar and Sandra, her roommate in the hospital, have in common?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Hagar waiting for in Chapter 10, and in what other ways has she waited in the book?

2. Compare Hagar and Doris. Has their relationship changed during this book?

3. Hagar finds something in common with Elva, a recognition. How was this foreshadowed at her first visit to the nursing home?

4. In the hospital what is the ultimate humiliation for Hagar, that causes her to have to give up total control? Does she accept this gracefully?

5. Explain the irony of Hagar being moved to a semi-private hospital room.

6. Lottie Dreiser does not remember the incident described about the chicks. What does this say about Hagar as a narrator?

7. John's death effected Hagar deeply. However, she was not able to show the emotion until she drinks wine with Mr. Lee. Why do you think that was?

8. Describe the irony, at the end of Chapter 6, of Bram being buried in the Currie plot, and having the Shipley name carved on the other side of the Currie stone.

9. In Chapter 7, Hagar's fear of the dark is admitted. Why do you think she has never told anyone she was afraid of the dark?

10. What turns out to be Hagar's biggest character flaws?

(see the answer keys)

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