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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. In Chapter 15, what famous fictional city is Syracuse the inspiration for?

2. What does Sam's husband tell her will just take time to improve in Chapter 14?

3. What city does Sam live in?

4. What does Sam's daughter misconstrue when Sam tells her about her separation from her husband?

5. Who performs at the open mic night in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 14, what does Matt do for Sam that makes it harder for her to be angry with him?

2. Where does Sam end up meeting people she thinks are more like-minded in the realm of activism?

3. In Chapter 5, why do some of the youngest women at the activist meeting get angry and storm out?

4. Where does Sam work, and what does she do there?

5. What does Sam think of MH when she first meets her?

6. What does Ally think about one day telling Sam about her secret relationship?

7. What begins emerging as a source of tension between Ally and Sam early on in Ally's adolescence?

8. How does Sam afford the house she buys in Part I?

9. How are the house Sam buys and her decision to leave her husband related?

10. In Chapter 6, what does Matt ask Sam to do regarding their daughter Ally?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Sam's stroke end up affecting all of her relationships, as well as her own perception of herself and her future? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Spiotta treat the topic of the effects of technology - especially social media and digital images - on relationships throughout this novel? Write an essay explaining your answers. citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Sam attempt to explain some of the more controversial aspects of Clara Loomis's life to visitors to the Clara Loomis House? How does Sam seem to feel about these controversies herself? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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