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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 are Freda and Brenda looking at when the story begins?

2. Who is Brenda's mother-in-law?

3. What does the note from Vittorio say?

4. Where does Rossi regularly summon Brenda?

5. With whom does Freda picture a life?

Short Essay Questions

1. Whose arrival causes a huge commotion and angst for Brenda?

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

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

4. What are Freda's dreams about a life with Vittorio and how is the outing her last hope to achieve them?

5. What is the setting for THE BOTTLE FACTORY OUTING and who are the two characters first introduced?

6. How has the gunshot incident affected Freda's outlook and mood?

7. Despite of her feelings of jealousy, how does Brenda feel herself coming back to life?

8. Describe Freda.

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

10. What are Freda and Brenda's circumstances and how did they meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Rossi. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

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

Explain the role of the poor workers in the mid-1970s when the men in the story are living their adult lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they enjoy that 21st century men do not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 816 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample