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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. When Paul goes outside, what does Paul see through the restaurant window?

2. What annoys Paul about the restaurant manager?

3. What do the boys tell the bum to say when they attack him/her?

4. In what language is Rick screaming when he attacks the bum?

5. What was Paul's former occupation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Michel call his father while he his at the restaurant?

2. Where do Paul and Claire go before the restaurant? Why?

3. What explanation does Serge give to Paul regarding Babette's behavior in Chapter 15? Is he telling the truth?

4. Paul states in Chapter 17 that Serge is of two minds when it comes to public attention. What are those minds?

5. How is the arrival of Serge and Babette at the restaurant described?

6. From what narrative perspective is the novel related? Why is this important?

7. Why does Paul go into Michel's room an hour before he and Claire leave for the restaurant? Why does he tell Michel he is there?

8. What film is described by Claire as the most racist film ever in Chapter 13? Why?

9. What conversation does Paul and Claire have regarding Michel before they go to the restaurant?

10. What does the man with the beard ask of Paul? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the story of Michel and Rick tell us about nature/nurture? How does Beau view his adaptive family? What have they taught him about how to succeed in the world?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the relationship of Claire and Paul. How does Paul deal with the Claire's illness and the possibility of losing his family? Why is Claire so protective of Paul? What keeps their marriage going?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the events and developments that are implied but not presented in the novel. What critical events happened "off-stage"? Why do you think the author chose not to explicitly show certain events?

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