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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 number pregnancy is Ita Noonan expecting?

2. When Ita starts convulsing, why does Julia say they should not put a spoon in her mouth?

3. Why is there no birth or death certificate needed for Delia's stillborn baby?

4. If Dr. Lynn were in charge of the world, what would not happen before the age of 20?

5. Why does Dr. Lynn prescribe more whiskey for Ita?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are two examples given at the beginning of "Red" that there is disease in the city?

2. What is the purpose for all the posted signs throughout the novel?

3. Why does Julia quickly remove the thermometer from Ita's mouth and place the thermometer in her armpit?

4. How does Julia become the acting ward sister?

5. How does Julia feel about her own physical appearance after Delia’s delivery? Why might she feel this way?

6. Why does Julia believe that Dr. Lynn is coming into the hospital to help out of the kindness of her heart?

7. Dr. Lynn performs an autopsy on Ita. How is Julia affected by it?

8. Why does Julia count herself lucky, regarding the pandemic?

9. What are Dr. Lynn's areas of medical expertise?

10. Julia is contemplative on her commute home from the hospital in "Brown." Of what does she think?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several aspects of this book and how it was written that are a unique. Describe at least two of these. Why might the author have chosen to do this? How do these choices affect the reader and the ease of reading? How might these choices relate to the story? Do you believe these were good choices? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

A great deal of medical terms are used throughout this book. What are at least three terms used? What are their meanings? Why might the author choose to use medical terminology? How does it affect the story and the reader's experience?

Essay Topic 3

From where does the name influenza come? What is the significance of this? How does this term, its meaning, and events in the story change Julia’s view of free will and fate?

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