View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How do the children react to Howard's death?
(a) Betty is the only one who is upset about it.
(b) They show little emotion.
(c) They are all devastated.
(d) Jules is devastated, but the girls show little emotion.

2. In what city does most of the novel take place?
(a) Chicago.
(b) Detroit.
(c) Seattle.
(d) Boston.

3. Who is Bernard Geffen?
(a) Pat's lawyer.
(b) Faye's father.
(c) A rich man who hires Jules as his personal assistant.
(d) The doctor who cares for Maureen.

4. What pretense does Jules use to visit Nadine?
(a) He delivers flowers to her.
(b) He needs to ask her questions about her uncle's estate.
(c) He visits her sister.
(d) He delivers some of her uncle's possessions to her.

5. What does Mrs. Wendall say about Jules's future?
(a) That he has to dress and behave as if he is richer than he is.
(b) That he will wind up in the electric chair, and Mrs. Wendall will pull the switch.
(c) That he needs to go to school in order to get a good job.
(d) That he will end up being a street-rat, just like his mother.

6. Who is Rita?
(a) Howard's sister.
(b) Bernie's niece.
(c) Loretta's friend.
(d) Loretta's daughter.

7. What does Pat see Maureen doing, in the last chapter of the first book?
(a) He sees her putting her money away.
(b) He sees her in a car with a man, her customer.
(c) He sees her sneaking out of the house after dark.
(d) He sees her looking through his wallet.

8. How does the barn fire start?
(a) Embers from a campfire.
(b) Sunlight hitting a convex piece of glass.
(c) A magic trick gone awry.
(d) A cigarette butt that isn't extinguished.

9. Who is the first major character to be introduced?
(a) Maureen.
(b) Betty.
(c) Jules.
(d) Loretta.

10. What does Loretta do every night while waiting for Pat to come home?
(a) Darns socks.
(b) Does dishes.
(c) Reads.
(d) Goes to bed.

11. What position is Maureen elected to in school?
(a) Secretary of her homeroom.
(b) Leader of the student senate.
(c) Officer of the debate team.
(d) Class president.

12. Why is Bernard killed?
(a) The jealousy of a business rival.
(b) The jealous rage of Faye's husband.
(c) A mugging gone wrong.
(d) His involvement in underworld crime.

13. What does Howard do for Loretta?
(a) He gives her medication to sell.
(b) He loans her money to get out of town.
(c) He helps her cover up Bernie's murder.
(d) He gives her a job at his restaurant.

14. Who takes Mrs. Wendall to all of her appointments at the clinic?
(a) Maureen.
(b) Howard.
(c) Loretta.
(d) Jules.

15. How might Nadine's emotions be described?
(a) Somewhat unstable.
(b) Very stable.
(c) Somewhat stable.
(d) Very unstable.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of school do Loretta's children attend?

2. How does Loretta's family feel about Mrs. Wendall's placement in a nursing home?

3. What happens to Maureen's notebook?

4. How does Maureen feel about the loss of her notebook?

5. Who is Maureen?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 560 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample