A Mind of Her Own: Full-Plot Quiz (20 Questions)

About This Quiz

This quiz spans the entire book, from Alexandra’s birth in Paris to her engagement to Oliver in Beardstown. It tests eight plot and sequence questions, five character motivation questions, four theme and symbol questions, and three synthesis questions. Questions mix multiple‑choice and short‑answer formats. The answer key follows after all questions.

Questions

Plot and Sequence (8 questions)

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, what do Alexandra’s parents, Victoria and Tristan, do?
A) They flee to Switzerland.
B) They volunteer for a field hospital at Saint‑Gond.
C) They send Alexandra to boarding school in England.
D) They open a private clinic in Paris.
After both parents die, Alexandra lives with her grandmother in Paris. Which illness ultimately claims her grandmother’s life?
A) Tuberculosis
B) Spanish flu complicated by pneumonia
C) Typhoid fever
D) Wounds from a bombing
On the SS La Touraine, Alexandra meets the Baxter family. On the last night of the voyage, what happens between her and Phillip Baxter?
A) They become engaged.
B) They exchange letters promising to marry.
C) He kisses her.
D) He gives her a ring.
After arriving in Beardstown, Alexandra takes a high school exit exam. What score does she earn?
A) 85
B) 92
C) 98
D) 100
During her freshman year at the University of Chicago, Alexandra writes an editorial that brings a flood of mail. What is the editorial about?
A) Prohibition
B) Women attending university
C) The Spanish flu pandemic
D) The end of World War I
After her grandfather Paul dies of Spanish flu, Alexandra learns that he altered his will. What is the most surprising item he left her?
A) A large sum of cash
B) His house in Beardstown
C) The Beardstown Courier newspaper
D) A collection of vintage cars
In Chapter 11, Oliver reveals a secret from his past. What is it?
A) He was once a soldier in the war.
B) He refused to marry a girl named Peggy, who then took her own life.
C) He has a child from a previous relationship.
D) He is actually a wealthy heir.
After Oliver is shot covering a Mafia shootout, he accepts a promotion to head of Crime. How does Alexandra respond?
A) She congratulates him.
B) She gives him an ultimatum: she will leave for Beardstown, and he must decide whether to join her.
C) She breaks off all contact.
D) She moves to New York permanently.

Character Motivation (5 questions)

Why does Alexandra reject the idea of marriage when she is a teenager in Paris?
A) She dislikes children.
B) She fears being controlled by a man and values her independence.
C) Her grandmother forbids it.
D) She plans to become a nun.
What motivates Oliver to avoid commitment early in his relationship with Alexandra?
A) He is secretly married.
B) He blames himself for his mother’s drowning and for Peggy’s death, and fears losing anyone he loves.
C) He plans to move to Europe.
D) He dislikes Alexandra’s family.
Why does Alexandra accept the summer internship at The New York World?
A) She wants to escape Beardstown forever.
B) She sees it as a step toward her journalism career and wants to gain experience.
C) She is forced to by her grandfather’s will.
D) She hopes to meet a wealthy husband.
After inheriting the newspaper, why does Alexandra decide to continue her education rather than run it immediately?
A) She has no interest in journalism.
B) The lawyer advises her that her grandfather wanted her to gain broader experience first.
C) The paper is worthless.
D) She is too young to learn the business.
What drives Alexandra to give Oliver the ultimatum in Chapter 15?
A) She is jealous of his colleagues.
B) She believes his dangerous job as a crime reporter puts his life at risk and prevents him from making a real commitment.
C) She wants to move to Europe.
D) She dislikes New York City.

Theme and Symbol (4 questions)

Throughout the novel, the Spanish flu symbolizes which overarching theme?
A) The inevitability of technological progress
B) The fragility of life and the sudden loss that shapes Alexandra’s resilience
C) The failure of modern medicine
D) The conflict between urban and rural life
Alexandra’s inheritance of The Beardstown Courier represents:
A) The burden of unwanted responsibility
B) The continuation of her grandfather’s faith in her and her own potential for leadership
C) A financial trap that limits her choices
D) The end of her writing ambitions
The contrast between Marie‑Thérèse’s traditional view of womanhood and Victoria’s feminist ideals most directly explores which theme?
A) The superiority of one culture over another
B) The tension between duty to family and personal independence
C) The importance of fashion in the early 1900s
D) The role of religion in marriage
Oliver’s dedication of his manuscript to Alexandra is best understood as a symbol of:
A) His desire to make money from her story
B) His emotional commitment and love for her, shown through his creative work
C) An apology for his silence
D) A request for editorial help

Synthesis (3 questions)

Compare Alexandra’s approach to love with that of her mother Victoria. How are they similar? (Short answer)
How does the novel use the setting of Beardstown, Illinois, to advance Alexandra’s character development? (Short answer)
In the final chapter, Oliver proposes while kneeling and adds the phrase “not to obey” to the traditional vow. What does this moment reveal about the central theme of partnership? (Short answer)

Answer Key

B) They volunteer for a field hospital at Saint‑Gond. (Chapter 1: “When World War I begins … Victoria and Tristan volunteer for a field hospital … at Saint‑Gond.”)
B) Spanish flu complicated by pneumonia. (Chapter 3: Marie‑Thérèse dies from Spanish flu complicated by pneumonia.)
C) He kisses her. (Chapter 4: “On the last night he kisses her.”)
C) 98. (Chapter 5: “Alex scores ninety‑eight and earns a diploma.”)
B) Women attending university. (Chapter 6: “She writes another editorial on women in university, gaining acclaim.”)
C) The Beardstown Courier newspaper. (Chapter 7: Paul leaves “the newspaper, house, and money” to Alex.)
B) He refused to marry a girl named Peggy, who then took her own life; he also blames himself for his mother’s drowning. (Chapter 11: Oliver reveals “at nineteen he refused to marry a girl named Peggy, who then committed suicide; he also blames himself for his mother’s drowning.”)
B) She gives him an ultimatum: she will leave New York for Beardstown, and he must decide whether to join her. (Chapter 15: “Alex gives him an ultimatum: she will leave New York to run her grandfather’s newspaper, and he must decide whether to join her.”)
B) She fears being controlled by a man and values her independence. (Chapter 2: Alex tells her grandmother “no man would ever tell her what to do” and she has “no desire to marry.”)
B) He blames himself for his mother’s drowning and for Peggy’s death, and fears losing anyone he loves. (Chapter 11 reveals this trauma.)
B) She sees it as a step toward her journalism career and wants to gain experience. (Chapter 7: “She is offered a summer internship at The New York World and accepts, seeing it as a step toward her future.”)
B) The lawyer advises her that her grandfather wanted her to gain broader experience first. (Chapter 7: The attorney explains Paul “wanted you to continue your education … have a broader life experience first.”)
B) She believes his dangerous job as a crime reporter puts his life at risk and prevents him from making a real commitment. (Chapter 15: Alex says “You’d rather get shot than [commit]” and “I can’t take it anymore … I’m going home.”)
B) The fragility of life and the sudden loss that shapes Alexandra’s resilience. (The Spanish flu kills several key characters, forcing Alex to grow and adapt.)
B) The continuation of her grandfather’s faith in her and her own potential for leadership. (The inheritance provides both material security and a challenge to prove herself.)
B) The tension between duty to family and personal independence. (Marie‑Thérèse values domesticity; Victoria values equality and service; Alex navigates both influences.)
B) His emotional commitment and love for her, shown through his creative work. (Chapter 13: “He gives her the manuscript, which he has dedicated to her.”)
Short answer sample: Both Victoria and Alexandra choose partners who share their values and ambitions. Victoria worked beside Tristan in the field hospital; Alexandra insists on an equal partnership with Oliver, both running the newspaper and writing. Each refuses to sacrifice her independence for love.
Short answer sample: Beardstown represents a stable home and a tangible legacy (the Courier). It forces Alex to confront her grief, take responsibility, and learn the newspaper business from the ground up. The small‑town setting contrasts with New York’s dangers and distractions, allowing her to grow into a determined leader.
Short answer sample: Oliver’s addition of “not to obey” directly acknowledges Alex’s lifelong commitment to independence and equality. It shows that their marriage will be a true partnership, honoring her mind and ambitions, which is the novel’s central idea: a woman with her own mind can build a life on her own terms.

Want to learn more about the story? Read the book overview, explore frequently asked questions, or see the ending explained.