View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 18, what does Sam see when she goes for a walk in the middle of the night?

2. What is the title of Ally's draft of her college admission essay?

3. In Chapter 3, what do Ally and Joe drink?

4. What does Ally do regarding Sam's communications in Part IV that really hurts Sam?

5. In Chapter 6, what does Sam start to feel guilty about?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 18, what does Sam witness that greatly disturbs her?

2. What are some of Ally's emerging doubts about Joe's work?

3. What happens during Sam's last meeting with MH at the fair?

4. Why does Sam decide not to confront Ally at the fair?

5. In Part III, why does Lily tell Sam she does not want to talk about details of her illness?

6. Why did Ally's family have to contend with Child Protective Services when she was 15?

7. In Part III, what exercise does Sam start doing and how does it make her feel?

8. What does Ally think about the likelihood of her father figuring out her affair?

9. What does Sam talk about at open mic night?

10. Why is Sam's open mic night such a terrible disaster?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Spiotta waits until well into the novel to reveal the extent of Lily's illness and its true effect on Sam? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Spiotta chooses to switch her main narrative focus between Sam and Ally at different points throughout the novel, and what effect does this variation have on the reader? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 746 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample