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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. Who claims that abusive behavior is not love?
(a) Terri.
(b) Mel.
(c) Nick.
(d) Ed.

2. What is Mel's ex-wife allergic to?
(a) Bees.
(b) Yellow jackets.
(c) Strawberries.
(d) Love.

3. How does Terri's ex-boyfriend eventually kill himself?
(a) He runs his car over a bridge.
(b) He stops eating.
(c) He stabs himself in Mel's kitchen.
(d) He shoots himself in the head.

4. What is in the spilled glass?
(a) Vodka.
(b) Iced tea.
(c) Coffee.
(d) Gin and tonic.

5. Who does Mel wish to talk with on the phone?
(a) No one.
(b) His ex-wife.
(c) His parents.
(d) His children.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mel's wife hope will happen to his ex-wife?

2. What happens to the teenager after the accident?

3. Who bumps Nick's knee under the table?

4. Who says that Terri's ex-boyfriend is so inept that he can't even kill himself properly?

5. How does the old couple appear in the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is a sense of repressed hostility presented in the story?

2. Describe the symbolism of Mel wanting to wear armor.

3. Why is it ironic that Mel is a cardiologist by profession?

4. How many views of the situation does the author give the reader? Do you think this is helpful or not? Why?

5. What does Mel hope will happen to his ex-wife and why?

6. What was Mel's relationship with the old couple like?

7. Why does Mel become more and more animated?

8. Why does Terri hope that Marjorie will remarry or die?

9. What description does the author give of Laura?

10. Describe the characters' response to Mel's revelation that real love does exist.

(see the answer keys)

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