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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. If they really examined their situation, what would they all be feeling?

2. What does Victor's admission mirror for the other hostages and terrorists?

3. How do other members of the house react to the new singer?

4. What does Father ask Carmen to be?

5. Who does Ruben approach to cook first?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Benjamin ask Gen to relay to his employer?

2. What does Carmen realize the house has become for everyone and how do the people inside of it choose to live their lives?

3. Why does Beatriz decide to be merciful towards Carmen and Gen?

4. As each day passes on, what interesting things are happening between the hostages and terrorists?

5. What prompts Beatriz to go to Father Arguedas?

6. To Roxane, what is true love?

7. What happens when Cesar begins to sing a capella?

8. Messner is jealous that everyone in the house gets to spend time with Roxane, but what does he slowly realize?

9. What is a milestone for Carmen and Gen?

10. Why does Father become upset with everyone's reaction to the garden?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do the house and guara symbolize throughout the novel?

Does Patchett use a lot of symbolization in the novel? So you think it is effective for the story?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, many characters experience jealousy towards one another for wanting Roxane.

- Why is jealousy a powerful and upsetting emotion?

- How can a person control their envy to live a better life? Name a character that has attempted to change themseleves by controlling their jealousy.

Essay Topic 3

In the book, music has become everyone's common language.

Also language was created to connect human beings, how does it drastically divide them?

Had the people in the house not had Gen's help, would they have found another way to effectively communicate?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 703 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample