View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of Chapter 5, what does Ally discover about her feelings for Joe?

2. In Chapter 10, who surprises Sam by coming to her work?

3. Who first puts Sam in touch with her trainer?

4. In Chapter 6, what does Sam start to feel guilty about?

5. In Chapter 12, what does Matt seem to think is the real reason for Sam's breaking up with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do news reports note is ironic about Aadil Mapunda's death?

2. What happens during Sam's last meeting with MH at the fair?

3. What does Sam talk about at open mic night?

4. In Part III, what does Sam admit to herself about Lily's illness and her own marriage?

5. What is the most serious of Sam's "rage events"?

6. Why did Ally's family have to contend with Child Protective Services when she was 15?

7. Why did Ally end up in the ER when she was 15?

8. What is the first of Sam's so-called "rage events"?

9. In Chapter 18, what does Sam witness that greatly disturbs her?

10. What does Sam realize about the effect of her own love for Ally on Sam's perception of Ally?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the missing tile after the break-in at Sam's new house bother her so much? What does the tile - and the house itself - symbolize to Sam? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Spiotta treat the topic of the effects of technology - especially social media and digital images - on relationships throughout this novel? Write an essay explaining your answers. citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What parallels does Spiotta draw between the upheaval in American political and cultural life and in Sam's own life? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 666 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample