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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 does the doctor say is the source of Betty's illness?

2. What is the main course of the dinner that Lottie and Betty take to the new family in town?

3. What are Franklin D. Roosevelt's national recovery programs called?

4. How old was Lottie when she got married?

5. What do Lottie and Sade never speak about during their long friendship?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the premise of A CURE FOR DREAMS?

2. Describe how Charles and Lottie are so different from each other.

3. Why does friction develop between Charles and Lottie?

4. How does Lottie intervene in Sade's marriage regarding her cheating husband?

5. What is the connection that Betty draws between the Depression and infidelity and which of Lottie's friends is directly affected?

6. What is Lottie's recurrent romantic fantasy and how does her real life differ from the dream?

7. How does the author show Lottie's true character, especially in the circumstances regarding Trudy?

8. What is the probable reason for Charles' suicide?

9. How does Lottie punish Charles for his unconscionable behavior regarding the death of the boy at the mill?

10. Who does Lottie determine has killed Roy and why does she choose to keep quiet about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compassion seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of abandonment? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the lives of the characters? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the book's title? What are some other possible titles for the book. List at least five and cite your reasons for each.

Essay Topic 3

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for Marjorie's life. Will the memories of her mother and grandmother still be such a powerful presence in her life? What is the nature of her relationships based on what she learned from her mother and grandmother?

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This section contains 1,037 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample