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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 time of year does Paula hate the most?

2. What does Paula admit to being addicted to?

3. What does Paula get for the young guard?

4. How many girls were in Paula's class at St. Mary's?

5. What does Paula steal out of the trash sometimes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What rule does Paula make for herself for the sake of her children?

2. What were the two labels given to young women when Paula was growing up?

3. What does Paula say she likes most about herself even after her sad past?

4. How does Paula feel as she pours gin down her throat?

5. Why is Paula happy that Nicola has no need to cling to memories?

6. What about Charlo lingers in the house after his death?

7. Why did Paula become so vulgar in high school?

8. How did Charlo die?

9. What does Paula do to get around her own rule?

10. How does Paula teach her daughter about sex, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Charlo and Mr. O'Leary are two very similar people, and yet they have some very notable and important differences. Using the text to cite some support, write a compare/contrast essay about these two characters.

Essay Topic 2

What role does symbolism play in the story and where does it appear? How is the plot altered by the presence of these symbols?

Essay Topic 3

What were some of Paula's coping mechanisms during hard times in her life, and how did these shape her situations for the good and the bad?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 578 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample