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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 Ralph admit to Catherine one night?

2. Ralph tells Catherine that Antonio reminds him of whom?

3. Which of the following is NOT something Ralph exhibits as the poisoning worsens?

4. What is Antonio's demeanor in the Italian house?

5. What is a doctor's diagnosis of Ralph's condition?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Catherine vacillates on poisoning Truitt and how she makes the decision to stop altogether.

2. Why did Catherine prostitute herself and how does Alice end up doing the same thing?

3. What is the link between poison and passion for Truitt at this point in his life?

4. How does a nightly glass of water symbolize Mrs. Larsen as a mother figure?

5. Why does Antonio delight in telling Catherine about where Alice is?

6. How does Truitt feel when Catherine returns home without Antonio and what is Truitt's suggestion for their life?

7. What had been Truitt's experience with arsenic when he was a younger man?

8. What is the nature of the encounter between Catherine and Alice in present day St. Louis?

9. How does Truitt think Antonio is just like himself at that age?

10. What does Catherine do to show that she is no longer trying to poison Truitt and is going to help him heal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of girls and women in early 20th century America. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

How does Catherine compare to the wife Truitt thought he was getting as a mail order bride? Is he happy that Catherine turned out to be who she was or does Ralph still wish for the meek, ordinary woman in the photograph?

(see the answer keys)

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