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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What piece of furniture does the queen complain about while at the ball?
(a) A wooden chair.
(b) A creaking dance floor.
(c) A stinky sofa.
(d) An ugly piano.

2. What happened to the Master's reputation after the ball?
(a) It skyrocketed.
(b) It diminished.
(c) It was unaffected.
(d) It ebbed and flowed.

3. What kind of head piece will Clara wear to the ball to disguise herself?
(a) A mask.
(b) She is not going to disguise herself at all at the ball.
(c) A hooded cloak.
(d) A Spanish veil.

4. Who is Clarissa Santiago of Aragon at the ball?
(a) Clara in disguise.
(b) Margarethe's made-up name for Iris.
(c) The sister of the prince everyone wants to see.
(d) The daughter of the hosts.

5. Who is the ball's guest of honor?
(a) Van den Meer.
(b) The Master.
(c) The mayor of Haarlem.
(d) Philippe de Marsillac.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Marie de Medici lose her power?

2. When Margarethe refers to the imp in their family, to whom is she actually referring?

3. How does Margarethe suggest Iris take care of the whole family?

4. How do Margarethe, Ruth, and Iris plan on getting dresses for the ball?

5. What event causes the ball to end abruptly?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the Epilogue, what reason does Ruth give for burning the painting?

2. Who is Caspar referring to when he initially tells Iris that she hopes she will not marry "the wrong man"?

3. What happens in the dream Iris has the night of the ball?

4. What does Iris worry will happen to Clara if they are forced to leave the beautiful van den Meer home?

5. How does the reader know Cornelius is depressed after his business venture fails?

6. What reason does Ruth give for why she often appears inconsequential and stupid in the retelling of the story?

7. What are two examples of juxtapositioned themes to her family's story that Ruth gives in the Epilogue?

8. What does the trail of blood that follows Clara after the ball indicate?

9. How does Margarethe react when Iris catches her seemingly trying to burn Young Woman with Tulips at the ball?

10. In the Epilogue, what does Ruth say about the paintings of Iris's that she admires?

(see the answer keys)

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