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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. What kind of records does Rysom have?

2. Who is in the photo Aldred stares at for so long in Chapter One?

3. Who is Gardiner's only mourner?

4. Why isn't Benedict engaged in the Japanese language lessons?

5. Why is Aldred driving to the Discoll's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Aldred come to know Raimonda and Gigliola?

2. Where is Aldred Leith and what is he doing?

3. How does Aldred get the job of studying China and Japan?

4. What happens to Professor Gardiner's wife?

5. As Benedict's health worsens, what is his greatest desire?

6. Why doesn't Aldred want to interview Helen and Benedict about the suicide?

7. What do thoughts of Aurora make Aldred Leith realize?

8. Why does Peter think Aldred is dead?

9. Who is more curious about each other; Aldred about the Driscoll siblings or the siblings about Aldred?

10. Why don't the Driscoll siblings ask Aldred about his war experiences?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is death used throughout the book? What does it prompt? What does it cause? Who does it affect? Use examples from the novel to discuss how death affects the plot and the characters.

Essay Topic 2

Aldred, Peter and Helen each deal with loneliness. How does it affect them differently? What do they have in common when being affected by loneliness? What does loneliness prompt each character to do?

Essay Topic 3

What do the Fry women bring to the story? Is their role a vital one? Why or why not? How do they influence both Helen and Aldred? Use examples.

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