View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Reta think of Helt's assessment of her first novel?
(a) Reta disagrees with Helt but is glad to be regarded as a serious writer.
(b) Reta agrees with Helt and is glad to be regarded as a serious writer.
(c) Reta disagrees with Helt and does not want to be disregarded as a serious writer.
(d) Reta agrees with Helt but does not want to be disregarded as a serious writer.

2. In the story, who does Reta think the Czech professor must hate?
(a) The writer.
(b) Himself.
(c) The reader.
(d) Women.

3. Why has Danielle deleted her early life and reinvented herself?
(a) Because she feels the past must be forgotten in order to move forward.
(b) Because she suffered from an accident and has trouble remembering.
(c) Because her early life is too painful and she wants to forget everything.
(d) Because she thinks it is important for feminists to assume new identities.

4. What has been able to distract Reta from grieving for Norah?
(a) Her friends.
(b) Her novel.
(c) Her family.
(d) Her house.

5. What great themes of literature does Reta tell Helt she learned while in high school?
(a) Birth, death, good, evil, and sympathy.
(b) Birth, death, love, connections, work, and understanding.
(c) Birth, death, work, suffering, and understanding.
(d) Birth, love, work, goodness, and sympathy.

6. According to the Chair in Theology, what faith is balanced on words "already" and "not yet?"
(a) The Lutheran faith.
(b) The Protestant faith.
(c) The Christian faith.
(d) The Jewish faith.

7. What does Reta remember about Tom's childhood as they walk in the cemetery?
(a) She remembers that Tom ran away from home.
(b) She remembers that his family lost their fortune.
(c) She remembers that his father was in the army.
(d) She remembers that his mother was a terrible housekeeper.

8. Who does Arthur frighten when he accidentally knocks over the object at Reta's house?
(a) Natalie.
(b) Reta.
(c) Christine.
(d) Pet.

9. What does Francis Quinn tell Reta and Tom about the gloves Norah has been wearing?
(a) That Norah wears them to bed.
(b) That Norah wears them at dinner.
(c) That Norah wears them in the bath.
(d) That Norah wears them to pray.

10. What assessment does Helt have of Reta's first novel?
(a) That it was laborious and difficult to understand.
(b) That it was well-written and complex.
(c) That it was entertaining but poorly written.
(d) That it was quickly written and a light read.

11. What is the woman who sets herself on fire outside of Honest Ed's wearing?
(a) Jeans and t-shirt.
(b) A habit.
(c) A veil and gown.
(d) A dress.

12. According to Lois, who makes fun of the list in her recipe box?
(a) Reta.
(b) Natalie.
(c) Tom.
(d) Christine.

13. What does Tracy Halliday want a huge jar of marbles to represent for Norah?
(a) The number of prayers Norah's family has said for her.
(b) The number of memories Tracy has of her.
(c) The number of Saturdays in Norah's life if she were to live to be eighty.
(d) The number of visitors Norah will have on her street corner.

14. In her letter about the obituary in the Globe and Mail, what kind of days does Reta write that she is going through?
(a) Unhappy.
(b) Bleak.
(c) Fearful.
(d) Dismal.

15. What anomaly does Lois tell Arthur she sees on the oak tree outside her window?
(a) A dead branch.
(b) A lone leaf.
(c) A nest.
(d) A ribbon.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of the third novel in Reta's trilogy?

2. Why does Arthur Springer call Reta the day after Christmas?

3. Why does Reta think that novel writing is perhaps a pointless exercise?

4. According to Tom, what is the cause of the condition of Norah's hands?

5. In the short story that Reta writes her letter about, what does the Czech professor see in the medical supply shop that disgusts him?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 706 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample