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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 man that Olivia met on the 1979 trip?

2. What news does Penelope give to her mother when she is home on a break?

3. Why is Noel interested in Amabel?

4. Why can Penelope's parents not attend her wedding?

5. What make of car does Penelope's father own which Ambrose is enamored with?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author show the respectful relationship between Olivia and Penelope?

2. How important is independence in Olivia's life?

3. Who is Danus Muirfield?

4. What is the flashback Penelope has to when she was nineteen?

5. What is the story of Penelope's parents' relationship?

6. Why does Noel exhibit such callous behavior toward his mother?

7. How is Olivia's view of the Lawrence Stern paintings different from how Olivia views them?

8. What is the tone of the relationship between Ambrose and Penelope?

9. Who is Hank Spotswood?

10. What is the nature of Antonia's phone call to Olivia and how does it change Olivia's plans with Hank?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Olivia. What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Olivia?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Penelope. What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Penelope?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the role of the family in THE SHELL SEEKERS. What does it mean for each of the main characters? How does the family evolve in its support or disregard of each other? How typical is this family to most British families living during the mid- to late-20th century?

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