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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. What is all that Sam can think in her shock at the end of Chapter 18?

2. What is the reason Sam got in a fight with the doctor over Ally's care?

3. In Chapter 16, what does Laci ask Sam to sign for her?

4. In Chapter 16, who does Laci bring to Clara Loomis House to meet Sam?

5. What did Ally often call Sam when she was a young child?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Sam feel an intense wave of loneliness in Part III?

2. What does Sam see at the fair that shocks her?

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

4. What does Sam realize about the effect of her own love for Ally on Sam's perception of Ally?

5. In Part III, what does Sam admit to herself about Lily's illness and her own marriage?

6. What do news reports note is ironic about Aadil Mapunda's death?

7. What does Ally come to realize about the conflicting nature of her feelings for Joe?

8. What does Ally tell Joe about her mother's open mic routine?

9. How does Sam fall back into the pattern of having sex with Matt again?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the missing tile after the break-in at Sam's new house bother her so much? What does the tile - and the house itself - symbolize to Sam? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Spiotta's style and tone throughout this novel, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Spiotta use the conversations Sam has both on social media and in activist groups to develop Sam's character? 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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