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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 do in lieu of attending the funeral for the person at Scribano & Lawrence?
(a) Reta grieves at home with her family.
(b) Reta brings a plant to the office.
(c) Reta sends flowers and a note.
(d) Reta does nothing.

2. What does Reta want to demonstrate when she and Tom visit Ben after Norah's sudden disappearance?
(a) Her approval of Ben.
(b) Her disapproval of Norah.
(c) Her approval of Norah.
(d) Her disapproval of Ben.

3. According to Reta, what is "full of rough corners that seem to me just about to come into their full beauty"?
(a) Reta's daughters.
(b) Reta's husband.
(c) Reta's home.
(d) Reta's writing.

4. What is undrinkable according to Colin?
(a) Tom's lemonade.
(b) Red wine.
(c) Green tea.
(d) Reta's coffee.

5. What do Reta, Tom, Christine, and Natalie do in the car in Toronto?
(a) They share memories of Norah and laugh.
(b) They stare out the windshield and cry.
(c) They ponder the future and laugh.
(d) They talk about their feelings and cry.

Short Answer Questions

1. 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?

2. What has a dormitory appearance with meals served and an enforced curfew?

3. What troubles Norah when she comes home one weekend her second year at university?

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

5. According to Reta's writer friends at the Orange Blossom Room, why are women excluded from real life?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Reta realize that she cannot create a perfect woman as a hero in her novel?

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. 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?

6. How are Reta's feelings about sex related to her writing about Alicia and Roman?

7. Why does the memory of shopping for the perfect scarf for Norah haunt Reta as a "big female secret" and what does the scarf represent?

8. What does Reta's husband Tom do for a living and how is it significant concerning Norah's absence?

9. Why does Reta wake up with anxiety about cleaning her house?

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

(see the answer keys)

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