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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. Faunia decides that she and the animal are now ___________, even though the animal might hurt her.

2. Who does Coleman suddenly want to confront when he is thinking about the accusations against him?

3. Where does the Vietnam vet take Lester and some others as a part of their therapy?

4. Coleman encourages Faunia to ______________ to the same song that Steena once did.

5. Delphine carries the letter in her purse for months before visiting _______ one afternoon.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Faunia try to give the crow when she is at the Audubon Society?

2. What is one of the lessons that Les has to endure as a part of his new therapy with a fellow Vietnam vet?

3. What does Coleman think when he sees the members of the Elderhostel classes walking to the dining hall?

4. What is the real reason Faunia gets angry with Coleman for reading to her when they get up the next morning?

5. Why did Coleman decide to never tell his children or his wife about his racial heritage?

6. What does Les think he has to do in order to be able to feel things again?

7. How does Les feel when he goes up to the Moving Wall memorial?

8. What was the issue with the girl in Lisa's reading recovery group that made her question her teaching abilities?

9. What does Coleman encourage Faunia to do that Steena once did with him in the past?

10. What did Coleman tell his children about his own parents when his children were much younger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of the professor having an affair of sorts with the illiterate janitor is a little bit contrived, some would say.

Part 1: Do you think a professor and a janitor would realistically have an affair with each other? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think Faunia and Coleman are attracted to each other?

Part 3: Do you think that Faunia and Coleman would have had a shot at being together? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Even in his darkest times, with rumors swirling about him, no one seems to stick up for Coleman.

Part 1: Why do you think none of his academic colleagues stood up for Coleman?

Part 2: Why do you think Coleman's children instantly believed the rumors instead of giving their father a chance to explain?

Part 3: Do you think anyone likes Coleman enough to help him? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

It's interesting that the story includes a modern day reference to the Bill Clinton scandal, as it mirrors other events in the story as well.

Part 1: Why do you think the author decided to include the reference to the Bill Clinton scandal?

Part 2: Do you think Clinton's situation and Coleman's situation are similar? Why or why not?

Part 3: What do you think the novel has to say about affairs between older men and younger women?

(see the answer keys)

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