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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. How does the video on the news broadcast that Paul and Claire see end?

2. When Beau, Rick, and Michel started throwing trash, what item nearly hit a woman in the head?

3. What unexpected event occurs after Paul beigns taking medication?

4. What name does Paul give for his wife to the principal in Chapter 30?

5. What chance is Serge unwilling to take?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paul consider about children when speaking with the psychologist in Chapter 31?

2. What has Paul prepared for dinner when Serge and Babette visit while Claire is in the hospital? Why?

3. Why does Paul wish for a war or terrorist attack in Chapter 24?

4. Why does Serge and Babette come to Paul's home when Claire is in the hospital? How does Paul respond?

5. What response does Claire have as she and Paul watch the surveillance video on television?

6. What does Paul order for dessert and what are his thoughts on it?

7. How is Claire treated for her illness in Chapter 34?

8. What advice does Paul give to Michel in Chapter 23? Why?

9. How does Paul's house appear when Babette and Serge visit while Claire is in the hospital?

10. What treatment does Paul receive for his medical condition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of secrets in The Dinner. What characters in the narrative harbor secrets? From whom do they withhold these secrets? What statements do you think the author is making regarding secrecy in this novel?

Essay Topic 2

The theme of family is a critical element in The Dinner. Write an essay exploring how the theme of family is developed in the novel. Are the families presented in the novel unusual or the norm? What is the author trying to communicate about human nature by presenting these two families as expressions of the theme?

Essay Topic 3

Explore and evaluate Claire and Michel's "solution." Why do you think the author chose to have the final decisive actions taken by characters other than the narrator? What would be Paul's solution to the problem?

(see the answer keys)

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