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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 Freda's reaction to the funeral?

2. Who is the woman at the factory who adores Freda?

3. Who is Rossi?

4. What does Freda do when arriving at the wine factory?

5. What is unusual about the Italian men working at the factory?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Patrick and how does he become involved in Brenda and Freda's lives?

2. Explain the relationship Mr. Paganotti has with his employees.

3. What is Freda's reaction when she learns that she and Brenda have been given the afternoon off due to the "death" of Freda's mother?

4. How does the author use foreshadowing in Maria's reading fortunes in tea leaves?

5. Who is Rossi and how does he behave toward Brenda?

6. How does Brenda treat Stanley when he attempts to contact her?

7. With whom is Vittorio in love?

8. Who are the only men in the factory who speak English?

9. Describe Freda's low mood and how a note from Vittorio turns her around.

10. Who is Maria and what is her attachment to Freda?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Brenda, Vittorio, Rossi and Patrick. Be sure to incorporate the characters' emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, etc.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the story. Why does Bainbridge use the settings she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

There is much symbolism in this story regarding the Queen's funeral horses. What do the horses symbolize for Freda? What do they mean for group at large? What does it mean that Vittorio seems happy to see Freda on one of the horses? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample