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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. John Bellew enters Felise's apartment in a state of
(a) Hilarity.
(b) Resolve.
(c) Panic.
(d) Rage.

2. As to Clare's motives, Irene is
(a) Trusting.
(b) Understanding.
(c) Suspicious.
(d) Hopeful.

3. Irene allowing Clare into the private rooms of the house symbolizes
(a) Irene's desire to show Clare her wealth.
(b) Irene's wish that Clare will love her sons.
(c) Irene allowing herself to be vulnerable.
(d) Irene's invitation to invade her family.

4. At the tea, Clare is
(a) Not herself.
(b) Lively and gregarious.
(c) Distracted.
(d) Angry.

5. Helga finds some satisfaction in
(a) Being a preacher's wife.
(b) Living in the south.
(c) Living in poverty.
(d) Changing the women in the congregation.

Short Answer Questions

1. Soon after Helga is well enough to be out of bed

2. In Chicago, Clare's husband

3. Why does Irene feel it unsafe for Clare to come back?

4. When Clare mentions she would do anything to get what she wants, it

5. In her illness, Helga is unable to

Short Essay Questions

1. What is it that has kept Clare from leaving her husband and living permanently in Harlem?

2. After two years pass, Clare again wants to become involved in Irene's life. Is Irene's reaction negative or positive? Explain her reaction.

3. How does this time in Helga's life compare to other times? Is it similar or different? In what ways?

4. What is odd about the initial meeting among Irene, Gertrude and Clare? Are these conversations typical among women friends? What, if anything, makes the visit among the three women unusual?

5. What is your initial assessment of Clare Kendry? Do we know enough about her in these first two chapters to draw any conclusions about her? If so, what would they be?

6. Why do you suppose Clare is pushing herself so rigorously to get involved in Irene's life? Why has she not chosen, for instance, Gertrude, to reacquaint her with the black culture? What is the particular attraction to Irene?

7. Discuss Helga's new exuberance as the wife of a minister.

8. What do we learn about the marriage of Irene and Brian Redfield in this chapter? Is it healthy? Is it durable? Why, or why not?

9. What is the author's intention when she puts the two women together in the hotel restaurant scene? What conclusions can we draw from Irene's memory of that day?

10. What kind of parent is Clare Kendry? What are the clues, thus far, that help us to draw conclusions about her parenting abilities? How has Larsen informed us about this?

(see the answer keys)

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