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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. When Licia called her mother on Christmas, her mother told her that she did not want to hear from Licia until Licia returned home or _____________________.

2. Where does Jo rarely go?

3. Where does Jo meet Daniel?

4. Dana is a part-time _____________ student.

5. Which of the housemates did Licia find murdered?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jo confuse Jean Bennett when telling her how Jo knows Jean's husband, Eli Mayhew?

2. Who are Jo and Daniel's daughters and how are they different from each other?

3. What is the first theory the police have regarding Dana's murder?

4. What does Dana think Licia might be when she catches Licia in lies?

5. How did Jo get her start in veterinary medicine?

6. What are the circumstances in which Jo sees Eli again after so many years?

7. Why does Licia seem to fit in so well with the group members who seem to have no real plans?

8. What is the premise of WHILE I WAS GONE?

9. Who is Dana, and how does Licia (Jo) meet her?

10. How is Jo impatient with Daniel's needs when she wants to talk, and how does she try to mend things on Sunday morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jo spends some alone time throughout the novel to contemplate her life. What does she think about? What conclusions does she arrive at? Explain why she is in a contemplative mood at this point in time.

Essay Topic 2

WHILE I WAS GONE is a classic story of loss and renewal. What does that classification entail? Why does this book fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of deception. Identify at least two themes about deception in the book. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

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