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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. Why did parents avoid teaching their daughters about sex in the early part of the 20th Century?

2. What does Silla's friend, Florrie do to Selina that upsets her?

3. Why does Miss Thompson not go to the doctor?

4. Which of the following is one of the reasons that Maritze is bitter?

5. What is one of the main issues that the Boyce family faces?

Short Essay Questions

1. What event takes place in Book 3 that coincides with the beginning of World War II?

2. In Book 2, Beryl and Selina have a conversation about babies being born. Why do they not know the facts of life?

3. In Book 3, Chapters 1-4, what does Florrie do to Selina that shocks her so much? And why does she do it?

4. Why does Suggie drink rum and act so promiscuous?

5. In Book 1, Chapter 3, why is Maritze so annoyed with Suggie's romantic adventures?

6. How does Deighton respond to the racism that he encounters while applying for accounting jobs?

7. Why is Selina uncomfortable in Book 2 when she sees the couple making out in the park ?

8. In Book 1, why does Selina not want to wear the second-hand clothes that Silla has brought home?

9. Why does Silla want to sell the land that her husband has inherited in Barbados so badly?

10. Following his work injury, why does Deighton see no point in engaging in physical therapy to enable his injured arm back to full strength?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Silla and Selina have a volatile relationship. Describe and analyze the changes that take place in their relationship over time. In what way(s) does Selina evolve into a person like her mother? Different from her mother? Does she embody more of Silla's negative characteristics, or more of her positive characteristics? Do you think that Selina surpasses her mother in character? Why or why not? Support your position with statements from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

What is the pivotal moment in Selina's life that changes her entire future? Is there more than one? Define Selina's pivotal moments, and analyze how they change her.

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the ways in which Selina is innocent and how she gains knowledge. Connect those ideas to major themes in the book. In other words, identify the areas in which Selina is innocent, and track her journey into a more knowledgeable status in the area(s) that you cite. What themes do those topics illuminate?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 812 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample