View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. For how many weeks will Eli and Ben be gone on the road trip to the California coast?
(a) 1 week.
(b) 1 month.
(c) 2 weeks.
(d) 3 weeks.

2. Lizzie hears a rumor that what action was taken against a woman walking down Coney Island Avenue?
(a) She was beaten.
(b) She had her hijab ripped off.
(c) She was told to go home.
(d) She was captured by ICE.

3. Lizzie officially meets the handsome man from the bus when they run into one another in what location?
(a) The back-to-school concert.
(b) The bar.
(c) The cafe.
(d) The university library.

4. Lizzie states of Henry in Chapter Four, "My brother never seems to" take what action "anymore" (158)?
(a) Work.
(b) Sit down.
(c) Write.
(d) Sleep.

5. Who provides Henry with therapeutic exercises to help with his obsessive thoughts?
(a) Margot.
(b) Catherine.
(c) Lizzie.
(d) Lorraine.

Short Answer Questions

1. Sylvia decides to move to "the darkest place in America," (151) which reportedly is located in which state?

2. It is strongly implied that the presidential election referred to in Chapter Three occurred in which year?

3. Who wants to see exhibits about the Hominids at the Smithsonian Museum?

4. What question does Lizzie say becomes ubiquitous online in the wake of the presidential election?

5. Catherine always arrives home to greet Henry and Iris at what time of the evening?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what kind of dwelling do Ben and Catherine live and what is the significance of this fact?

2. For what reason does Lizzie stay home during the three weeks of Ben and Eli's absence in Chapter Four?

3. Who asks Lizzie to name her fears in Chapter Four and what three elements of life does she name?

4. Discuss an instance when Offill uses a literary device to illustrate some aspect of the sibling relationship between Ben and Lizzie.

5. What purpose does Offill have in mind when including the detail that Catherine always gets home from work at seven in the evening?

6. Describe the therapeutic exercises that Margot prescribes for Henry.

7. In what way does the motif of dreams arise within Chapter Four in order to again demonstrate the strong connection between Henry and Lizzie?

8. For what reason does Offill allude to C.S. Lewis's novel Prince Caspian in Chapter Four?

9. In what way does Offill use the character of Lorraine to demonstrate the frustration felt by many Americans in the wake of the 2016 election?

10. To which historical event does Lizzie compare the U.S. presidential election of 2016 and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,070 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample