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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. Which of the following does Averill NOT do on deck each night?

2. Georgia travels to see the husband of her recently deceased friend, _______________.

3. What observation does Morris' bookkeeper make about Matilda?

4. What reason does Maya give Georgia for Miles coming to Maya's house?

5. Who runs the business in #96?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what Averill does every night on board the ship.

2. Who are June (Bugs) and Averill and what are they doing as the story begins?

3. How does Margot keep Reuel in line now that she had spotted him with their young babysitter, Lana?

4. What kind of world does the boat at night represent for Averill, and how does she incorporate the captain into this world?

5. Who is Miles and what is his relationship with Georgia?

6. What does this story say about uneven love in relationships, especially in the case of Maya's husband, Raymond?

7. What is the symbolism of the red stained glass through which Joan views the world?

8. Who is Georgia, where has she traveled to at the beginning of the story, and who does she meet right away?

9. What does an older and divorced Joan learn about Matilda when she returns home to tend to her mother's grave?

10. Who is Matilda and what are the circumstances in which her mother is cruel to Morris?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who are two of Munro's characters in this book who appeal to you the most? What is it about these characters that you like? What are their weaknesses? How about redeeming qualities? Are Munro's characters believable in your opinion. Explain and use examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of women in Canada in the late-20th century when the women in the stories are living their lives. 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 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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