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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. Why does Irene leave Wednesday Bible study early?

2. What does the tract, piece of paper, that the homeless man gives to Irene contain?

3. What is Jeremy's co-worker surprised to find out about Jeremy in Part Three?

4. Where does Lisa say that these other people from the videos went in Part Three, Chapter 2?

5. What advice does Pastor Brian, the Pastor from the Crescent church, give to Peter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jeremy relate a weekend in Vegas to what happens to him at Lisa house in Part Three, Chapter 4?

2. How does Lisa initially respond to her mother's disappearance?

3. How does Lisa explain her reasoning to Sarah Jane for taking the videos and adding the scenes into the movies?

4. When Irene leaves Bible study early and tells Peter it is because the others did not like the question she is asking, what sort of questions is Irene most likely asking that are controversial?

5. Using the quote, "...when she'd [Irene] gave no indication that anything unusual had happened or was about to happen or would continue happening without interruption in the days to follow" (127), what might the reader assume about Irene's disappearance?

6. Why is Sarah Jane truly concerned about Ezra's car accident?

7. How does Jeremy's lack of knowledge about Stephanie's apartment help him discover something critical about himself?

8. In Part Three, Chapter 1, what are the two versions of where Irene may be according to the narrator? How do the different stories leave out any definite information?

9. In what ways is Irene's new married life in Crescent different from when she lived in Tama? How does the move emotionally affect her?

10. What are some of the first signs that Irene is taking her new church very seriously, and that it may be beginning to take over her life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part Three, Chapter 4 is set in the future and casts Jeremy as a worker who is rebuilding a shed. His co-worker is surprised that Jeremy knows so much about old sheds and how they are made. Jeremy's memories of being at Lisa Sample’s years before overtake him, and new discoveries are presented through this experience. What does Jeremy explain about his experience at Lisa's house? How do his understandings and revealings relate to Jeremy's growth and change of character from past to present?

Essay Topic 2

Pages 121-122 describe a situation Irene Sample shares with her husband, Peter. She has left a bible study for asking controversial questions, but the author decides not to clarify what she has been asked by the congregation. What do you think caused Irene to leave the bible study? Knowing how the novel evolves after this incident, what topic do you think Irene disagreed with and why?

Essay Topic 3

The Quote that precedes the novel examines the theme of secrecy that evolves throughout the novel. It claims that there are "secret agents," who for varied reasons decide to keep or share secrets. Choose one character from the narrative who wrestles with secrecy and decide how their behaviors, thoughts, and ideas contribute to the theme of secrecy. How does secrecy relate to that character's development? Why is secrecy important to understanding the character?

(see the answer keys)

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