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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. In Chapter 7, who does Maeve turn to for legal advice about the situation with Andrea?

2. In Chapter 6, what does Andrea think has happened when she finds Maeve, Danny, Sandy and Jocelyn in the kitchen after their father's death?

3. Where does Maeve go to college?

4. In Chapter 6, where does Maeve go to work after her graduation from college?

5. Who cries at the end of Chapter 4 when Andrea's bedroom rearrangements are revealed to Maeve?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is there a portrait of Maeve hanging in the drawing room instead of Maeve's and Danny's mother?

2. What happens to Maeve shortly after her and Danny's mother leaves the family?

3. What does Danny remember about Fluffy in Chapter 1?

4. In Chapter 5, what does Danny's father do on a whim that is hugely significant for Danny?

5. In Chapter 2, how does Danny say he feels about his mother?

6. In Chapter 2, what does Danny do every Saturday with his father, and why is it important?

7. In Chapter 1, what aspect of the house does Andrea express concern and misgivings about?

8. In Chapter 5, what is different about Danny's father's demeanor when they meet Maeve for dinner?

9. In Chapter 6, how do Sandy and Jocelyn react to Andrea's instructions for Danny and Maeve to leave the house and never come back?

10. In Chapter 3, what does Andrea do one day that greatly surprises Danny and Maeve?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing the evolution of Danny's and Maeve's attitudes and feelings towards Fluffy from their childhood through their adulthood. Cite specific references to the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

At different points all throughout the novel, Danny wonders to himself and aloud to Maeve how accurate their memories and recollections of the past are. Write an essay analyzing Patchett's treatment of the theme of memory, and on how reliable any one individual's memory of the past is in this novel.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 6, Danny seems convinced that the reason Andrea disowned him and Maeve completely was because they had not called her immediately when they found out their father was dead. Do you think this oversight is a plausible and reasonable explanation for Andrea's later actions in the context of the complete story? Write an essay explaining your impressions, citing specific references to the text to support your answer.

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