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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 happens when Hagar offers some food to the children?
(a) They run home.
(b) They eat the cheese and chocolate.
(c) They politely say no thank you.
(d) They eat everything she has left.

2. In the privacy of her own bedroom, why didn't Hagar cry for her dead son?
(a) She was already all cried out from losing Bram.
(b) She really didn't care that much for John.
(c) She had held back the tears too long and couldn't cry.
(d) She didn't have any tissue.

3. Hagar's roommate needs a bedpan, but her nurse doesn't come. What does Hagar do?
(a) Gets the bedpan for her.
(b) Tells her to hold it.
(c) Starts yelling for the nurse.
(d) Pretends like she is sleeping.

4. Why did John continue to lose jobs?
(a) Some jobs were laying off people, others were temporary.
(b) Companies were going out of business.
(c) He stole merchandise.
(d) He was lazy, like his father.

5. Why didn't John want to apply for a scholarship or loan to go to college?
(a) He said he didn't want to leave Arlene.
(b) He said he didn't have the brains.
(c) He didn't know why he should since is mother made so much money with her stocks.
(d) He said he was too old and didn't have the brains.

Short Answer Questions

1. What caused the death of John and Arlene?

2. Sandra, Hagar's roommate in the hospital, is angry with Hagar when she is wheeled back in after surgery to remove her appendix. Why is Sandra angry with Hagar?

3. Hagar returns to Manawaka when Bram becomes very sick. Upon seeing Hagar for the first time in years, Bram doesn't recognize Hagar at first. Later, who does he tell her she reminds him of?

4. Even though Marvin hated smoking, what does he give Hagar?

5. When a sea gull enters her room, what old Proverb does Hagar remember?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Hagar does not allow herself to cry in front of strangers?

2. In Chapter 9, why do you think Hagar apologize to the nurse?

3. 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?

4. How does Hagar view the nursing home?

5. 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.

6. Having never said a kind word about Bram, why do you think Hagar tells Elva her husband had been very handsome?

7. What do Mr. Murray Lees and Hagar have in common?

8. In Chapter 7, Hagar sees that Arlene is making the same mistakes she did. How is this true?

9. What is Hagar's view toward religion in Chapter 8?

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

(see the answer keys)

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