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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. Why does Patrick hit Rossi?

2. Who is driving the Ford Cortina?

3. Where does Brenda tell the neighbor Freda has gone?

4. What does Brenda do so that Freda won't be mad at her later?

5. Where does Brenda dream that she and Freda are?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Brenda discover Freda's dead body?

2. How does the author illustrate the class difference between the Italian men and the others in the group?

3. Who finally admits to killing Freda and how do the others respond?

4. What does the group do with Freda's body and what are Brenda's continuing thoughts about her dead friend?

5. What romantic thoughts does Freda have at the castle regarding Vittorio?

6. What is the significance of the group's not telling Mr. Paganotti about Freda's death?

7. What information does Rossi give Brenda regarding Freda's manipulative behavior in the days prior to her death?

8. How does the author use foreshadowing when Brenda tells the neighbor that Freda has taken a trip to Spain?

9. How does the group immediately respond to Freda's death?

10. How doe Freda and Brenda prepare for the outing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A feeling of impending doom seems to be an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the dread? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? How does the author create and maintain the feeling of dread? How can an animate object or characteristic be a character?

Essay Topic 2

Bainbridge uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony.

Essay Topic 3

How does Brenda change over the course of the story? Why does the author make her character so vulnerable? Is there any significance to her seeming to attract strong, manipulative people into her life? How is Freda's death very freeing for her? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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