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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 does Reta bring Norah on the way to her appointment to have her eyebrows tinted?
(a) Food and a warm coat.
(b) Shoes and books.
(c) Books and a picture of Christine and Natalie.
(d) Food and a picture of Pet.

2. What problem does Reta initially attribute Norah's disappearance to when she first goes missing?
(a) Norah's relationship with Reta.
(b) Norah's relationship with her sisters.
(c) Norah's relationship with her boyfriend.
(d) Norah's relationship with her father.

3. What is the subject of the new book Tom is reading?
(a) Trilobites.
(b) Plankton.
(c) Fungi.
(d) Mites.

4. What does Tom's friend, Colin Glass, try to explain to Norah when he comes over for dinner?
(a) Curie's Theory of Radioactivity.
(b) Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
(c) Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
(d) Newton's Laws of Motion.

5. In what point of view is Reta considering writing her novel?
(a) First-person point of view.
(b) Third-person limited point of view.
(c) Second-person point of view.
(d) Third-person omniscient point of view.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of woman does Reta realize she cannot create for a heroine in her novel?

2. In the few weeks prior to her disappearance, who does Ben think Norah might have a problem with that would account for her uncharacteristic behavior?

3. What does Reta discover behind the furnace that belonged to the previous owners?

4. What does Reta do in lieu of attending the funeral for the person at Scribano & Lawrence?

5. How does Reta explain Norah's strange behavior to Christine and Natalie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Norah's thoughts about the two main characters in her novel, and why they are significant.

2. Why does Reta initially think Norah's problems may have stemmed from her relationship with Ben Abbot?

3. Describe Reta's feelings about the formation of her inner dialogue, the "longest conversation" that goes on in a lifetime in a person's mind.

4. During Norah's visit from university the previous year, Reta states that she knew how "wildly out control" Norah was, how "she'd become dangerous to her own being." Describe why Reta comes to this conclusion.

5. How does the American election results in Florida that Tom, Christine, and Natalie watch relate to Norah's absence?

6. Describe Reta Winter's thoughts and feelings as the novel opens.

7. Why does Arthur love Alicia as a character and why is it significant?

8. What are Reta's feelings about Tom and their sexual relationship?

9. How do Natalie and Christine attempt to give the impression that Norah's absence is part of a normal routine?

10. Describe Reta's peculiar behavior when she visits Norah in early November.

(see the answer keys)

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