View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does a woman deemed suitable for procreation need to do when she wants to have a baby?

2. What is the morning routine for babies at Sidra's work?

3. In addition to information on where the baby is from and its name and age what other information is listed about the babies?

4. Why do some women return their borrowed babies quickly?

5. What happens to men who fail their genetic screening?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Hadley's life in Omaha like after she moves following her failed genetic screening?

2. Where are library babies sent when they turn three?

3. What happens in "Graceful Burdens" once a woman is deemed suitable for procreation?

4. What do some wealthy women do if they fail genetic screening?

5. What happens in "Graceful Burdens" to women when they reach the age of 16?

6. Describe the area where the library babies stay until they are checked out.

7. What happens when Hadley tells her family she failed her genetic screening?

8. Why is Sidra hired for the caretaker position at the Omaha Public Library?

9. Describe the card catalog in the library at the start of "Graceful Burdens."

10. What is the baby lending process at the Omaha Public Library?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing the symbolic significance Hadley's family's religion has on the story. Why is this important and how does it develop the themes of the story? What would be different if his family were not religious or practiced a different religion? Use examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay examining the babies and motherhood as a symbol in "Graceful Burdens." In what scenes does this seem most significant? What is the context? How do these work to develop the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Roxane Gay's commentary on gender in "Graceful Burdens." How is gender important to the story? How does it effect the narrative? Use textual evidence to explain your analysis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 747 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample