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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 did Caroline once say Gary should not apologize for?

2. What does Alfred have on the west side of his ping pong table?

3. What is Gary doing while his wife plays ball outside with the children?

4. What does Julie say Chip mentions too much in his script?

5. Why is Caroline afraid to leave the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Chip thinking about as he waits for his parents at the airport?

2. How did Denise determine that she didn't become a squishy liberal?

3. Why does Chip say he is depressed?

4. Why is Caroline so alone?

5. Why is Gary so angry when he finishes talking on the phone to his father?

6. Why is a mixed grill important to Gary and his family?

7. Why does Caroline have a problem with Enid?

8. What is Caroline's reason for not going to St. Judes for Christmas?

9. What kind of relationship does Chip think one should have with their parents?

10. Why does Enid decide it is best not to have a porthole?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the generation gap between younger and the older characters. What different experiences did both generations go through? What problems is the generation gap causing the relationships between the characters?

Essay Topic 2

What do Alfred and Enid find out about each other and themselves on the cruise? In what way could the cruise be said to be the turning point of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Pick a character from the book and discuss his or her goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

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