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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 Charity tell her mother and aunt about Sid?

2. What element of foreshadowing does the author provide in this chapter?

3. What concerns Sid about Charity?

4. What do Larry and Sally do after the other guests have gone?

5. What body of water do Larry and Sally view from their new apartment?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Sid and Charity described?

2. How does the evening of the party end for the Morgans and the Langs?

3. How does Sid feel about his teaching job?

4. Who is the dominant person in each of the two marriages?

5. What is the setting for the beginning of the novel?

6. What work does Larry do?

7. In spite of their challenges, what is the state of Larry and Sally's marriage?

8. What is the outcome of Sally's labor and delivery experience?

9. Explain the flashback the author uses to describe the beginning of Sid and Charity's courtship.

10. Even though he was relishing some time alone, how does Larry actually deal with so much time by himself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author begins the story in the present day and tells the story through a series of flashbacks. Why did he choose to tell his story this way? In what way is a flashback technique more interesting for a reader? In what ways is it more complicated?

Essay Topic 2

Larry's job loss is an opportunity for Charity to work her connections to find him a job. Why is Larry open to Charity's help when her own husband rejects all her attempts to further his career? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the setting at the beginning of the novel. Does the author paint a complete picture for the reader? What, if anything, is missing?

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