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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 is Alice's main concern about living with Mother?

2. What does Mother do that embarrasses Alice when she visits her at the San?

3. Who is Aunt Frances?

4. Who is Arthur?

5. What does Mother tell Alice they will get when they go to Florida?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Alice's friendship with Arthur.

2. Describe the Big House.

3. Explain the circumstances that lead to Alice becoming an orphan.

4. What are Aunt Frances' priorities?

5. Why is Florida important to Alice?

6. Why do Aunt Frances and Arlette take charge of unpacking Mother's things?

7. How would you describe Mother's relationships with men?

8. Was Father a happy man?

9. Is Uncle Billy satisfied with his life?

10. How does Arthur help to form an image of Mother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Fiveys seem to struggle to communicate with one another.

1) How is Nonna's inability to speak reflect on the Fiveys?

2) How do different members of Alice's family attempt to communicate their love for each other?

3) Which member of the family is the best and worst communicator? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the role of creativity, art and literature in Florida.

1)Compare and contrast the way that Father, Alice and Mr. Early use literature in their lives.

2) Do Mother's artistic talents contribute in any meaningful ways to the lives of anyone in the story?

3) How does Alice use her own literary talents in a meaningful way?

Essay Topic 3

Explain how the following events contributed to Alice's coming of age in the novel.

1) Mother going to the San.

2) Moving to the Big House.

3) Arthur's death.

(see the answer keys)

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