View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 11, when does Beth leave for Paris?

2. When does Harry Beltic decide it is time to move out of Beth's home?

3. Who is the best chess player since Morphy?

4. Upon returning home, Mrs. Wheatley is not sure how to react to Beth. How does she decide to react?

5. What happens when Benny and Beth are out to dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beth react to not winning the tournament in Mexico City?

2. How does Beth feel, at first, at the college party?

3. What does Beth think about Las Vegas? Why?

4. What does Beth think of the young chess prodigy in Mexico City?

5. How does Beth end up in New York?

6. How does Beth play against Benny at skittles in Chapter 10?

7. Why does Beth still feel like an outsider in chess in Chapter 6?

8. Why is Beth worried at the end of Chapter 5?

9. How does Beth feel about losing to Benny Watts?

10. What does Benny’s apartment look like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beth gets involved with several men. Describe her relationships with them. What similarities are there? How does the man’s intelligence and ability or inability to play chess influence her feelings for them? How do her physical relationships compare to other relationships she has?

Essay Topic 2

Sexuality is introduced early on in the book. How does Beth learn about sex and sexual acts? What is her reaction to this? How is she affected by this? Why might the author have chosen to do this? How does it affect you as the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Beth‘s determination regarding chess ebbs and flows throughout the book. What are two examples of when it ebbs and two examples when it flows? What events surround this increase or decrease in seriousness and competitiveness? How does this inconsistency affect Beth and her abilities at playing chess?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 719 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample