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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. How long does Florence think it will take her to swim the English channel?

2. When was Florence born?

3. Where is Anna planning on going to college?

4. When did Joseph open the plant on Mediterranean Avenue?

5. How old is Isaac?

Short Essay Questions

1. Three days after Florence dies, who does Joseph realize need to know that she is gone?

2. How did Stuart suggest that Florence spend the summer of 1933?

3. What was Joseph's relationship with Anna's mother?

4. What do Joseph and Esther do after Florence's graveside service?

5. What does Gusslie like and not like about being in the shadow of Atlantic City's Steel Pier?

6. Why is Stuart frustrated that his father pulled him from the States Avenue lifeguard stand?

7. What does Esther decide about telling Fannie that Florence has died?

8. Why does Fannie find her mother exhausting to be around sometimes?

9. What happens to Florence?

10. Who is Stuart?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Metaphors and similes are figures of speech that are used to make comparisons between things. Metaphors seem to imply an equal comparison, while similes seem to imply a similarity between two things. Does the author use more metaphors or similes in the novel? How does the use of metaphors or similes help readers comprehend concepts? How does the use of metaphors or similes help readers make the writing more interesting?

Essay Topic 2

Idioms are words that have a figurative, rather than a literal meaning. How does the author use idioms in the book? Why are the idioms sometimes difficult to understand? Why do the idioms often require research to understand their meaning? Why are idioms especially difficult for Anna to understand?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses historical details in the novel. How does the author use historical details in the book? How do the details that the author uses in the book about World War II and the 1930s imitate events from real life?

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This section contains 985 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample