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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. In what season of the year does this part of the story take place?
(a) Summer.
(b) Winter.
(c) Autumn.
(d) Spring.

2. What is perverse about Richard's good fortune?
(a) He has won a major literary prize, but his health is in serious decline.
(b) It has come just when he is no longer interested in fame.
(c) He has the money to buy a new apartment but mightn't live to get to move into it.
(d) He has won a major literary prize but he'll need all the money to pay off debts.

3. What is the woman under the arch doing?
(a) Sniffing a huge bunch of flowers.
(b) Looking for tricks.
(c) Singing.
(d) Begging.

4. What sudden change in Virginia has occurred?
(a) Her hair is quickly going white.
(b) Her hands look arthritic.
(c) She seems too happy.
(d) She is no longer beautiful.

5. What is Virginia's reaction as Vanessa takes her hand?
(a) She feels she must put up with it for the children's sake.
(b) She feels both irritated and satisfied.
(c) She feels comfortable.
(d) She feels happy at this expression of caring.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what way does Virginia see Clarissa coming to her senses.

2. What does Virginia fear?

3. What does Laura seem to have learned through her time in the kitchen with Richie?

4. What does writing, when inspired, give to Virginia?

5. What is the reason for the slabs of italic type in this chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Comment on the style of the Prologue to The Hours by Michael Cunningham.

2. What is significant about the utterance of the word 'hurl'?

3. Why is Laura fearful of Richie making an error as he helps her make the cake?

4. Explain what is meant by the comment that Laura Brown is 'trying to keep herself'.

5. Why did Virginia not engage more with Nelly over the matter of the day's menu?

6. What is the 'inner faculty' that Virginia refers to?

7. What is significant about the kiss Laura gives to Kitty?

8. What is significant about Oliver St. Ives?

9. What makes Clarissa Vaughan embarrassed?

10. What impression of Leonard Woolf is given in this chapter?

(see the answer keys)

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