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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 advice does Elena give to Lila's son in Chapter 1?

2. With whom does Lila suggest she and Elena go dancing with in Adolescence: Chapter 14?

3. What does Lila ask Elena to do with the book she has written in Childhood: Chapter 15?

4. What subject does Lila offer to study with Elena in Adolescence: Chapter 6?

5. How much money does Gino say the other boys bet him that Elena's breasts were padded in Adolescence: Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Lila's demeanor at the age of six?

2. How does Elena's first menstruation influence her relationship with Lila?

3. How would you describe the development of Lila and Elena's relationship in Adolescence: Chapters 7-12?

4. What leads to the family feuds and violence that erupts in Childhood: Chapters 8 and 9?

5. What themes are predominant in Adolescence: Chapters 13-18?

6. How is Lila's sense of competition illustrated in Adolescence: Chapters 13-18?

7. What is foreshadowed by the attentions paid to Lila during the outing in the city in Adolescence: Chapter 16?

8. What is discovered of Lila's belongings and mementos in Chapters 2 and 3?

9. What romantic gestures are seen in Lila and Elena's narratives in Childhood: Chapter 11?

10. How does Lila's behavior toward Elena change once Lila is no longer in school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's allusions to the novel Little Women in My Brilliant Friend. What impact does this novel have on Lila and Elena? How does it influence their actions? What are common themes between Little Women and My Brilliant Friend?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Carmela Peluso. When does Carmela become friends with Lila and Elena? How would you characterize her personality and actions? How does Carmela's friendship affect the friendship between Lila and Elena?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of Lila and Elena in the novel. How are they alike? How do they differ? How do their differences influence the development of their friendship in the narrative?

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