The Cousins Quiz: 20 Questions on Plot, Character, and Theme
Test your knowledge of Karen M. McManus's The Cousins with this 20-question quiz. Questions cover plot sequence, character motivation, theme and symbol, and synthesis. Each question is grounded in the novel's events, and the answer key explains why each answer is correct. If you need a refresher, check the book overview, questions and answers, or the ending explained. Good luck!
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Plot and Sequence (8 Questions)
1. What is the name of the resort where the three cousins are hired to work for the summer?
A. Catmint House
B. Gull Cove Resort
C. The Sevens
D. L'Etoile
2. Who actually arranged for the cousins to receive the invitation to Gull Cove Island?
A. Mildred Story
B. Donald Camden
C. Archer Story
D. Edward Franklin
3. What clue first reveals to Milly that Jonah is not her real cousin?
(Short answer)
4. At the Summer Gala, what does Anders reveal about Jonah?
A. Jonah is actually JT's half-brother.
B. Jonah is an imposter hired by Archer.
C. Jonah is a private investigator.
D. Jonah is Milly's secret boyfriend.
5. What does Aubrey discover about the death of Kayla Dugas?
A. She died in a car accident caused by drunk driving.
B. She was murdered by Anders.
C. She was drugged with lorazepam, and the autopsy report was altered.
D. She drowned at Cutty Beach.
6. Who is the woman posing as Theresa Ryan?
(Short answer)
7. What happens to Catmint House at the end of the novel?
A. It is sold to a developer.
B. It is destroyed by a fire.
C. It is renovated by the family.
D. It is left abandoned.
8. What decision does Uncle Archer make after the events at Catmint House?
(Short answer)
Character Motivation (5 Questions)
9. Why does Jonah North agree to impersonate JT Story?
A. To earn money for college
B. To get revenge on Anders Story for bankrupting his family
C. To help JT attend science camp
D. To meet Milly
10. Why does Milly initially resist going to Gull Cove Island?
(Short answer)
11. After the graveyard scene with Milly, what motivates Aubrey to become more proactive?
A. She wants to confront her father about his affair.
B. She wants to expose Jonah as a fraud.
C. She wants to ask her own questions and stop being passive.
D. She wants to win back Thomas.
12. Why does Archer arrange for the cousins to come to the island?
(Short answer)
13. Why does Milly confront Jonah outside Dunes?
A. She is jealous of Brittany.
B. She suspects he is not her cousin.
C. She wants to steal his wallet.
D. She is angry about his pool skills.
Theme and Symbol (4 Questions)
14. What does the diamond teardrop necklace symbolize in the novel?
A. The power of family love
B. Inheritance and manipulation
C. The beauty of the island
D. Milly's independence
15. What does Cutty Beach represent in the story?
(Short answer)
16. What does the grandfather's watch symbolize?
A. The passage of time
B. Family legacy and burden
C. The importance of punctuality
D. The cousins' bond
17. What theme is explored through the impersonations of Jonah and Theresa?
(Short answer)
Synthesis (3 Questions)
18. How does the theme of family secrets drive the plot?
(Short answer)
19. Compare the motivations of Anders and Archer.
(Short answer)
20. What is the significance of the postcard from Paula in the epilogue?
A. It reveals Paula's location.
B. It warns Jonah to keep his parents away from Anders's new venture.
C. It apologizes for the fire.
D. It asks for money.
Answer Key
1. B. Gull Cove Resort
The cousins are hired through the resort's summer hire program, as described in Chapter 5.
2. C. Archer Story
In Chapter 11, Archer admits he arranged the invitation using Edward Franklin to extend it in Mildred's name.
3. Jonah ate shrimp linguine despite a shellfish allergy that affects the real Jonah Story.
Milly notices this in Chapter 7 and later confronts him.
4. B. Jonah is an imposter hired by Archer.
At the gala, Anders reveals that Jonah is actually Jonah North, a neighbor's son, and introduces JT as his real son.
5. C. She was drugged with lorazepam, and the autopsy report was altered.
In Chapter 21, Oona notes the report lists lorazepam, which is absent from the family's copy, leading to the suspicion of a cover-up.
6. Paula Donahue, Theresa Ryan's sister.
In Chapter 25, Theresa reveals she is actually Paula, who took her sister's identity after Mildred's death.
7. B. It is destroyed by a fire.
Paula sets the fire in Chapter 25, and the house burns to the ground.
8. He decides to enter rehab.
In Chapter 26, Archer announces he will check into a rehab center on Cape Cod.
9. B. To get revenge on Anders Story for bankrupting his family.
Jonah explains in Chapter 19 that he came to the island seeking revenge on Anders.
10. She has never met her grandmother or her cousins and is wary of the situation.
In Chapter 1, Milly resists, noting she has never met them.
11. C. She wants to ask her own questions and stop being passive.
After the graveyard scene, Aubrey decides they should give Hazel the interview and ask their own questions.
12. He wanted his mother to meet her grandchildren and planned to confess everything in a letter after the gala.
Archer reveals this in Chapter 11.
13. B. She suspects he is not her cousin.
She confronts him after figuring out the shellfish allergy clue.
14. B. Inheritance and manipulation.
The necklace is an heirloom used as a bribe by Allison to convince Milly to go, symbolizing the family's wealth and control.
15. Cutty Beach is the place where everything went wrong, tied to Matt Ryan's drowning and Kayla Dugas's death.
Aubrey connects it to her father's novel and the line 'that's where it all started to go wrong.'
16. B. Family legacy and burden.
The watch, inscribed by Mildred, represents the weight of family history and expectations.
17. Identity deception and the consequences of pretending to be someone else.
Both Jonah and Theresa/Paula impersonate others, leading to betrayal and chaos.
18. Family secrets drive the plot by creating the central mystery of the disinheritance and the hidden truths about Kayla and Matt's deaths.
The cousins' investigation uncovers layers of deception that propel the narrative.
19. Anders is greedy and manipulative, seeking to control the family fortune, while Archer seeks redemption and connection, ultimately choosing sobriety and a simple life.
Anders exposes Jonah for his own gain, while Archer arranges the cousins' visit to reunite the family.
20. B. It warns Jonah to keep his parents away from Anders's new venture.
The postcard from Paula says, 'keep your parents far away from Anders Story's new venture,' suggesting the past still threatens them.