PART TWO: CHAPTER THIRTY - EIGHT - On the Shelf Quiz — Little Women

Why does John begin spending his evenings at the Scotts' home?

• He is attracted to Mrs. Scott
• His own parlor is empty and Meg is always in the nursery
• He and Mr. Scott are business partners
• Meg asks him to leave so the babies can sleep

What is Marmee's central piece of advice to Meg?

• She should hire a nanny and return to social life
• She should stop neglecting John and include him in raising the children
• She should confront Mrs. Scott about spending time with John
• She should move back to the March family home

What personal experience does Marmee share to support her advice?

• She once left Mr. March for several months
• She made the same mistake with Mr. March when Meg and Jo were small
• She was raised by a single mother and regretted it
• She hired Hannah specifically to save her own marriage

How does the bedtime struggle with Demi end?

• Meg gives Demi sugar and he falls asleep
• Demi cries until he makes himself sick
• Demi falls asleep in John's arms, holding his father's finger
• John gives in and lets Demi stay downstairs

What does Meg do to signal her change after the bedtime scene?

• She writes John an apology letter
• She asks John to read about politics and take her to a concert
• She fires Kitty the cook and takes over the kitchen
• She sends Hannah away and does everything herself

What does the title "On the Shelf" ultimately come to mean by the chapter's end?

• A place of social punishment for married women
• A metaphor for death and loss
• A safe haven of domestic love and partnership
• A reference to the bookshelf where John reads

Who is suggested to help Meg with the children?

• Mrs. Scott
• Jo
• Hannah
• Amy

Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

What does "obstreperous" mean as used to describe Demi?

• Sleepy and calm
• Noisy and difficult to control
• Clever and mischievous
• Shy and withdrawn

What does "pertinacious" mean in the context of describing Demi's mind?

• Easily distracted
• Stubbornly persistent
• Unusually intelligent
• Gentle and yielding

What does "marplot" mean when Meg calls Demi a "little marplot"?

• A small garden bed
• A person who spoils a plan by meddling
• A type of toy or doll
• A young troublemaker at school