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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 does the Latin phrase really mean?

2. Who did the country blame at first for the upheaval?

3. According to Chapter 9, what does Offred think about what the Commander has done?

4. Who was the man in the second part of the Salvaging, according to Ofglen?

5. What does Offred do before the van comes in Chapter 15?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do women come to work at Jezebel’s?

2. What is the condition that Nick sets forth for Offred in Chapter 13?

3. What form do Offred's prayers take in Chapter 11?

4. How does Offred feel about her participation in the Salvaging?

5. Why does the Commander offer Offred a gift in Chapter 10?

6. Where does Offred take the new Ofglen in Chapter 14? Why?

7. Why does Offred think about her age and height in Chapter 9?

8. According to the professor in Chapter 15, what might have happened to Offred?

9. What are Offred's plans in Chapter 9?

10. How does the professor describe Nick’s role?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the book, the Commander states that better doesn’t mean better for everyone; it always means worse, for some. What is the significance of this in the context of Gilead? Give concrete and specific examples to illustrate this statement and explore its significance.

Essay Topic 2

Offred leaves the novel on a deliberately ambiguous note. If the novel were to continue, what would her next chapter look like? Use the ‘professor’s’ speech from the end notes as the basis for your fictionalized version.

Essay Topic 3

Gilead might seem to be a cold and terrifying society at first glance. Explore the basis of this society. What came before, and what were the factors that caused Gilead to arise? How has it organized itself, and for what reasons?

(see the answer keys)

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