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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 does Irene say in the letter she sends two weeks after she goes missing in Part Two, Chapter 6?

2. What else happens to make Peter think that Irene will not return home?

3. Why does Sarah Jane say that she is staying at Lisa's farmhouse?

4. Who receives a letter from Irene two weeks after she goes missing?

5. What does the tract, piece of paper, that the homeless man gives to Irene contain?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways is Irene's new married life in Crescent different from when she lived in Tama? How does the move emotionally affect her?

2. How does Jeremy's lack of knowledge about Stephanie's apartment help him discover something critical about himself?

3. How is Peter Sample's life described at the start of Part Two, Chapter 1? Do not use the exact information provided, but make inferences that can be drawn. Write in your own words.

4. What are some of the first signs that Irene is taking her new church very seriously, and that it may be beginning to take over her life?

5. Why does Jeremy relate a weekend in Vegas to what happens to him at Lisa house in Part Three, Chapter 4?

6. How does Lisa explain her reasoning to Sarah Jane for taking the videos and adding the scenes into the movies?

7. Using the quote, "...when she'd [Irene] gave no indication that anything unusual had happened or was about to happen or would continue happening without interruption in the days to follow" (127), what might the reader assume about Irene's disappearance?

8. Irene places the tract given to her by pastor Michael Christopher in her pocket and then in the "anything drawer" at the house. Why does Irene's placement of the tract give it more meaning?

9. Upon Irene's first visit to Michael Christopher's church, what is his interpretation and the importance of the Bible verse from Luke?

10. Why is Sarah Jane truly concerned about Ezra's car accident?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

More information is revealed about the video containing Jeremy answering odd questions, which are asked by Lisa Sample. Page 194 specifically accounts for what Lisa asks and how confusing the questions are to Jeremy. How does this conversation make sense to the reader, even though Jeremy does not know Lisa's reasoning? Why does Lisa most likely ask these questions?

Essay Topic 2

At the end of Part One, Chapter 9, Jeremy's father, Steve, asks Jeremy if it is okay that Steve is dating again. Jeremy responds that it is fine, because Linda, his mother, would want Steve to be happy. Then, Jeremy wrestles with his own relationship with his father and what Jeremy can do to make his father comfortable. How does Jeremy feel about living with his father? How do Jeremy's musings about this relationship reflect a greater theme in the novel that reflects the hesitant and uncertain nature of events and characters' decisions?

Essay Topic 3

In Part Two, Chapter 4, the pastor, Michael Christopher dispenses a metaphorical association between the literal and figurative nature of a Bible verse. This incident happens upon Irene's first visit to this new church. Christopher states, "There's a reason why Luke wants us to see this worker in the field, why Matthew says you don't go back for your clothes. It's not just that God doesn't mind if you're dirty...The dirt's a sign" (116-117). How is "being dirty" a good thing for human nature? What does Christopher expect from his congregation according to this elucidation? How does the quote affect the growth and conclusion of Irene's character?

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