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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 does Joel work?

2. What college did Tom first go to?

3. What item of Dickie's clothing does Tom wear?

4. What part of Tom's meal makes him feel mellow?

5. What is Frieda Hoehn's job?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Tom meet in Rome?

2. How does Tom want to prepare for meeting the Greenleafs for dinner?

3. Why is it safe for Tom to tell the Greenleafs he studied in Princeton?

4. How does Dickie react when Tom tells him his father sent him to bring Dickie home?

5. What has Tom been doing while alone in his hotel room?

6. What does Tom say to the Greenleafs in the postscript?

7. Why does Tom have a long conversation with a painter called Carlino?

8. What excuse does Tom give Marge for Dickie's absence?

9. What does Tom think is an average day for Dickie and Marge?

10. What does Tom understand about Dickie in Chapter 8?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Highsmith's life. In what way do you think her life and personality are reflected in the book? In what ways is she like or unlike Tom Ripley?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the difference between American and European culture in terms of the following:

1) Religion.

2) Attitudes towards death.

3) Popular culture.

Essay Topic 3

Pick two characters from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motives? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

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