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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. Why does Arthur tell Reta the day after Christmas that he has been up all night?
(a) Because her book needs a lot of work.
(b) Because he has been thinking about Alicia.
(c) Because he has not received her book.
(d) Because he is concerned Reta will miss a deadline.

2. What do Reta and Tom speculate about Norah's wrists?
(a) Whether Norah has fallen and hurt herself.
(b) Whether Norah has made unsavory friends.
(c) Whether Norah has used a razor in a suicide attempt.
(d) Whether someone else has hurt Norah.

3. What does Reta remember about Tom's childhood as they walk in the cemetery?
(a) She remembers that Tom ran away from home.
(b) She remembers that his family lost their fortune.
(c) She remembers that his father was in the army.
(d) She remembers that his mother was a terrible housekeeper.

4. What does Reta mention in her letter about the obituary that she wants from the universe?
(a) Peace.
(b) Forgiveness.
(c) Understanding.
(d) Comfort.

5. The nature of _______dominates the conversation between Reta and Danielle at lunch.
(a) Faith.
(b) Forgiveness.
(c) Love.
(d) Virtue.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Reta think of Helt's assessment of her first novel?

2. Who is Dennis Ford-Halpern?

3. According to Tom, what is the cause of the condition of Norah's hands?

4. Why does Lois knock on the door to investigate when Arthur is in the house by himself?

5. What is Helt's central thesis in her review of a female author?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Reta's impression of Arthur Springer when she finally meets him at her home in January and how do they get into a heated discussion?

2. Why does Reta call Dennis Ford-Halpern's omission of women in his book "The Goodness Gap" a "moral dilemma in itself"?

3. As Reta and Arthur have their heated discussion, what three things happen that interrupt them that provide comic relief to the serious conversation?

4. When Tom calls to inform Reta that Norah is in the hospital, how does the point of view change in the novel?

5. Why does Reta make an exception in sending her letter to Russell Sandor, a short story writer?

6. Why does Reta sign her letter to Dennis Ford-Halpern, "Yours, Rita Orange d'Ville"?

7. What is Lois's true opinion of what happened to Norah that she is afraid to express?

8. At the end of the novel, what do we learn about the reason for Norah's disappearance and subsequent homelessness?

9. Why is Lois's conversation with Arthur when she comes over to investigate about dinner significant?

10. According to Reta, why is goodness not a guaranteed virtue?

(see the answer keys)

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