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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 car does Frank drive?

2. How long have Lucille and Frank been dating by the start of Section 2?

3. What is written on the note from Scott Bredeman in Section 2?

4. Where does Arthur place Mr. and Mrs. Hamburger in Section 2?

5. What did Robert Emmet Kelly get for Christmas, in Section 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do we learn about Maddy's mom in Section 1?

2. What happens the first time Maddy goes to Arthur's house in Section 1?

3. What happens between Maddy and Scott Bredeman in Section 2?

4. What happens when Maddy sneaks back into her house in Section 1?

5. In Section 2, what does Lucille tell Frank about her impression of New York City?

6. How does Maddy describe her relationship with the other kids in her school, in Section 2?

7. Who is Anderson and what is the first impression the reader gets of him in Section One?

8. Who is Mr. Lyons and how does Maddy describe him in Section 1?

9. What does Arthur learn about Heidi Mueller when he passes her grave?

10. How do Maddy and her father celebrate Maddy's birthday in Section 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Section 4, Lucille talks to Maddy and Arthur about her experience with happiness. She says, "I felt like some embodiment of happiness was sitting there, and I was afraid to look over at it. I was afraid it would go away. And then it talked. The happiness, it talked, it said, 'Look at me.' So I looked over. And happiness said, 'You're not looking at me. You're looking at you'" (171). What does this quote mean, and how does it highlight one of the key themes of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

What do cemeteries symbolize in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the way Steve and Arthur grieve for their wives. Which is the healthier way? What is the impact on the other characters in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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