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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 long ago did Rachel move in with Cathy, according to the narrative on July 9, 2013?

2. What term does Rachel use when describing a patient developing feelings for his/her therapist on July 29, 2013?

3. What does Rachel note next to the train tracks in the beginning of the novel?

4. When did Rachel first take a holiday with Tom?

5. Where does the 8:04 slow train travel, according to Rachel in the beginning of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the house at Number 15 Blenheim Road described by Rachel on Monday, July 8, 2013?

2. How common does Rachel describe "death by train" on Tuesday, July 9, 2013?

3. How does Rachel explain she knew Megan when she writes him on July 20, 2013? Why?

4. How does Rachel describe the home at Number 23, Blenheim Road on Tuesday, July 9, 2013?

5. On what date does Rachel's narrative begin in the opening of the novel? What is Rachel looking at outside of the train window?

6. What profession does Rachel suspect Jason has in the beginning of the novel? Why?

7. How does Rachel describe the incident with Anna and her baby in the narrative from July 20, 2013?

8. How does Rachel envision the relationship between Jason and Jess early in the novel?

9. How does Anna respond when she encounters Rachel leaving Scott's house on July 22, 2013?

10. How does Rachel respond to seeing Jess kiss a man who is not her husband? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What characteristics of the three narrators make them unreliable? Which narrator's perspective appears the most reliable in the course of the novel? How does the unreliability of these narrators influence the progression, mood, and tone of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the nonlinear plot structure of The Girl on the Train. Why do you think the author has chosen to relate the story in this manner? How would the story differ if it were related in chronological order? How does the nonlinear structure of the story tie into its themes?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Anna in the novel. How old is Anna? For how long has she been married? How does she feel about her marriage? What are Anna's principle actions, objectives, and obstacles in the course of the story?

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