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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. Where did Ellen's parents go after their marriage ceremony?

2. What does Kate say she's going to make Dr. Cohn for Christmas?

3. What does Ellen compare her mother's chest to?

4. What class had Ellen been in with her jailer?

5. What color does Ellen say her father's hair is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What questions does Ellen ask about the organization of the book club and what does Kate respond?

2. What is Kate's initial reaction when she discovers that Ellen is home to stay?

3. What is Jonathan's relationship with his mother?

4. What does Ellen expect she'll find with regard to her mother's physical condition and what does she actually find?

5. Briefly describe the conversation that occurs as Kate and her guests try to decide on a color scheme for decorating the Christmas trees?

6. What does George say when Ellen accuses him of doing nothing to help with Kate?

7. How does Ellen discover that her father is having an affair?

8. What does Ellen say about putting the futon into her mother's home?

9. What does Ellen say tips her off to the fact that Jules has been talking to her mother and what does that say about the relationship between Jules and her mother?

10. Describe Ellen's brothers.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the "Minnies?" What is Kate's role in this group? Why is the group important to Kate? What is the reaction of the group's members after Kate's diagnosis? Why do they react this way? Is this typical?

Essay Topic 2

Ellen and her father clash over his insistence that she remain at home with her mother. Describe the arguments of each. Are their arguments valid? Why or why not? What were the possible alternatives? George says Ellen being at home is the only acceptable option. Was he correct? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Ellen tries to question Dr. Cohn alone one day but the doctor refuses to talk about Kate's cancer without Kate present. Is the doctor correct? Ellen says that she wants to know more about the progression of the disease but can't ask without her mother present. Should she have asked? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 793 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample