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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 immerse herself in despite her continuing grief?
(a) The fictional world of her characters.
(b) The trivial concerns about beauty.
(c) The needs of her daughters.
(d) The daily responsibilities of her home.

2. According to Reta, what is the most important aspect in her life?
(a) Her children.
(b) Her home.
(c) Her husband.
(d) Her writing career.

3. Who does Reta mention by name in her letter of complaint about "Great Minds of the Western Intellectual World"?
(a) Christine.
(b) Natalie.
(c) Tom.
(d) Norah.

4. What rationale does Reta offer about Norah's strange behavior in her letter to Valkner?
(a) It is Norah's way of getting back at Reta for not being there for her.
(b) It is Norah's deliberate effort to extiguish herself and be a nothing.
(c) It is Norah's attempt to be special and above everyone else.
(d) It is Norah's excuse not to finish school and get her degree.

5. What troubles Norah when she comes home one weekend her second year at university?
(a) Norah is afraid that she will disappoint her parents by failing school.
(b) Norah is upset that she cannot spend more time with her sisters.
(c) Norah is disturbed by the sense that she cannot love anyone enough.
(d) Norah is anxious about her decision to live with her boyfriend.

Short Answer Questions

1. What American event are Tom and the girls presently fixated on as they watch the news?

2. What are the two main characters' names in the sequel to Reta's first novel?

3. What is the idea Reta shrinks from when it comes to writing her book?

4. Where is the apartment Norah shares with her boyfriend located in the building in Toronto?

5. Who suddenly dies at Scribano & Lawrence?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Reta view her trip to the library as a way of reconnecting with Norah?

4. What attempt does Reta make to bribe her daughter Norah to come home when she visits her on her street corner and how successful is she?

5. According to Ben, how has Norah changed in the few weeks prior to her disappearance?

6. What are some concerns Reta has in creating her fictional character Alicia, and how are they significant?

7. 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.

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

9. Why does Norah make the sarcastic observation in her letter to Alexander Valkner that he must have suffered from extreme fatigue when he thought of his list of "literary big cats"?

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

(see the answer keys)

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