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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. Where was Hadley raised?

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

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

4. What is another of the four places babies may be sent to when they age out of the lending program?

5. What did Hadley's parents tell her she could do once she failed her genetic screening?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an analysis of Seraphina's character in "Graceful Burdens." Who is she? What is her life like and how does she feel about her role? How does her character support the story's themes?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Write a brief essay analyzing the Roxane Gay's choice to write "Graceful Burdens" in past tense. Do you agree with this choice? How would the story be different if written in a different tense?

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This section contains 705 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample