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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. How does Danticat refer to her grandfather?

2. What organization is Marie Micheline's husband a member of?

3. Why does Danticat's father lose his job on the day they arrive in the United States from Haiti?

4. What is Marie Micheline's husband's name?

5. How long after Danticat's father leaves for the United States does her mother follow him?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the section titled "We're All Dying," what does Danticat's friend tell her when Danticat informs her about how ill her father is?

2. In the section titled "Good-bye," how do the children determine that Granme Melina has died?

3. Why does Danticat decide not to tell her extended family about her pregnancy right away?

4. Where had Danticat moved to from Brooklyn in 2002?

5. In the section titled "Have You Enjoyed Your Life?", what does the herbalist Danticat's father takes her to tell her about her health?

6. What eventually happens with Marie Micheline's first husband, Pressoir?

7. What two opposite pieces of news does Danticat receive on the same day in early July 2004?

8. What does Danticat's mother give to her at the last possible minute at the airport to take with her on the plane?

9. Why was Danticat's father concerned about her move in 2002?

10. How does Joseph communicate and what does he communicate at Granme Melina's funeral since he can not give a sermon due to the loss of his voice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the faith that both Joseph and Mira place in herbal and alternative medicine. Where does the tradition that they follow seem to have originated?

Essay Topic 2

At several points in the book, traditional Haitian food is brought out to provide comfort and security. Write an essay exploring the importance of traditional dishes, cooking, and Haitian food to Danticat and her family.

Essay Topic 3

What do you think the neighbors' behavior towards Joseph after his laryngectomy and tracheotomy procedures indicates about the relationships between the people in that area of Haiti, where Danticat lived until she was about 12? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text.

(see the answer keys)

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