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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. What is the subject of the story that Maureen covered when she traveled shortly after her wedding?

2. What color truck does Mary see in the lane after Willis has left on her first day in the cottage?

3. Who is Muriel Noyes?

4. What reason does Maureen give for the bruise on the side of her face after Harrold hits her the first time?

5. What season do Harrold and Mary get married in?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Julia Strout describe Mary to the reporter Helen Scofield?

2. How does Harrold react when Maureen has a cold and indicates she wants to be by herself one evening?

3. What role does alcohol play in Maureen and Harrold's relationship?

4. What is one positive memory of Mary's childhood in Chicago?

5. How does Harrold encourage Maureen to change her physical appearance?

6. Is Muriel Noyers sympathetic to Maureen?

7. What happens when Maureen takes Caroline and goes to her mother's house?

8. In what ways does Harrold seem to change for a short time after Caroline is born?

9. How does Mary "keep the fear at bay" on the first day at the cottage?

10. When is the first time Mary sees Jack Strout?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What happens between Maureen and Harrold the night that Maureen runs away to Maine? Why does this event make her determined to separate herself from him? How is she smarter about the choices she makes in getting away this time?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Julia Strout's character. How is she described? What role does she play in Mary's life? Does Mary feel comfortable confiding in her? Provide textual examples to support your viewpoint.

Essay Topic 3

What first attracted Maureen to Harrold? What does she say about their early relationship? In what way did he act as her mentor? How did that change?

(see the answer keys)

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