Snapshots: The Address

Topics in this chapter

• War, Displacement, and Memory
• Loss and Emotional Recovery
• Mrs. Dorling and Moral Ambiguity
• Possessions and Material Meaning
• Narrative Structure and Symbolism
• Identity, Belonging, and Relationships

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-052E43

   Why does the narrator visit 46 Marconi Street after the war?

   1. A.To ask Mrs Dorling for employment
   2. B.To reclaim the belongings that her mother had entrusted to Mrs Dorling
   3. C.To invite Mrs Dorling to her new home
   4. D.To find out where her mother had travelled
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-A16CA8

   What does the narrator's final decision not to visit 46 Marconi Street again chiefly suggest?

   1. A.She has completely forgotten her mother.
   2. B.She has decided to replace all her old possessions.
   3. C.She understands that recovering objects cannot restore her lost home and past.
   4. D.She is afraid that Mrs Dorling will move to another address.
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-6EB82D

   Which interpretation best explains the contrast between the narrator's feelings about the household objects and the way Mrs Dorling's daughter treats them?

   1. A.The narrator sees the objects as links with her family and past, while the daughter sees them as ordinary items in her home.
   2. B.The narrator dislikes the objects, while the daughter wishes to sell them.
   3. C.The narrator wants to decorate the house, while the daughter wants to remove all furniture.
   4. D.The narrator believes the objects are worthless, while the daughter knows their exact monetary value.
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-8B7B93

   How does the story show that war can make familiar possessions both valuable and painful?

   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-B59CAE

   Why did the narrator's mother allow Mrs Dorling to take valuable household belongings to her home during the war?

   1. A.She wanted to sell the belongings secretly.
   2. B.She believed Mrs Dorling would keep them safe from the dangers of war.
   3. C.She wished to decorate Mrs Dorling's house.
   4. D.She had decided to leave the country permanently.
   See the answer and solution