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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. Who is the woman that works for Boris what Theo meets when he first sees Boris in New York in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

2. Where in New York does Theo put The Goldfinch in a storage facility in Chapter 8: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop, continued”?

3. What does Boris tell Theo he replaced the stolen painting with in the pillowcase in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

4. Who does Boris say he suspects stole the painting in Chapter 11: “The Gentleman’s Canal”?

5. What room number does Theo have at the hotel in Amsterdam in Chapter 11: “The Gentleman’s Canal”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Boris bring with him when he arrives in Chapter 12: “The Rendezvous Point”?

2. What arrangements are made for Theo’s guardianship in Chapter 7: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop”?

3. How does Theo’s mindset change once he has begun classes in Chapter 8: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop, continued”?

4. How does Theo describe his business dealings in Chapter 9: “Everything of Possibility”?

5. What does Theo learn about Havistock Irving from Hobie in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”?

6. What does Theo confess to Hobie after he returns home in Chapter 12: “The Rendezvous Point”?

7. What does Theo discover when he visits his old apartment in Chapter 8: “The Shop-Behind-the-Shop, continued”? How does Theo respond?

8. How does Theo describe his relationship with drugs in Chapter 9: “Everything of Possibility”?

9. Where does Theo meet Boris in Chapter 10: “The Idiot”? What does Boris confess to Theo?

10. What does Theo do once he returns to his hotel in Chapter 11: “The Gentleman’s Canal”? Why is this a significant part of the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Audrey Decker (Theo’s mother) in The Goldfinch. How does Theo feel about his mother? What is their relationship like? Why is Theo in trouble on the day that his mother dies? How does Theo describe his mother’s past?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Boris’s plan of action with the art thieves versus the reality of the situation in Chapter 11. What is Theo supposed to do when he meets the dealers? What happens instead? Why do you think that Boris changes the plan suddenly with the art thieves? What is foreshadowed by this action?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the legalities of Theo’s situation following the death of his mother. Who would be the first person(s) in this situation to take guardianship of Theo? Why is Theo’s case complicated due to his father’ absence?

(see the answer keys)

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