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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 job does Maddy take on at Arthur's?

2. What did Maddy tell her father when she was 4?

3. Where do Arthur and Steve meet in Section 3?

4. What odd food does Arthur grab from his house to make a make-shift picnic for Lucille in Section 3?

5. What TV family does Arthur compare himself, Lucille and Maddy to in Section 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Maddy's new bedroom at Arthur's like?

2. What happens when Maddy runs into Anderson in Section 4?

3. What does Arthur tell Maddy about the Guthries in Section 4?

4. How does Maddy feel when Arthur tells her, in Section 4, that he has asked Lucille to move in with them?

5. How does Arthur indicate that he is ready for death in Section 4?

6. What is the agreement that Arthur and Maddy come to in Section 3?

7. What happens when Lucille returns from the hospital in Section 3?

8. In Section 4, Lucille is exploring the idea of selling her house. What is her experience with her realtor?

9. Where does Maddy tell Arthur she has been staying when they meet in July in Section 3?

10. How would you describe Lucille and Maddy's relationship in Section 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Section 5, Arthur remembers how he and Nola used to go square dancing. How does he use square dancing as a metaphor for life?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, Berg writes, "Frankly saying, who cares what happens before we're born and after we die? The question is, what do we do in the meantime?" (132). How does this quote highlight some of the key themes in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the relationship between Lucille and Arthur. Consider what they offer one another and how Berg uses their relationship to develop their character.

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