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1. Describe Desdemona's silkworm box and its contents.

The box is made out of olive wood and has a faded icon of a saint on the cover which only shows the man's hand blessing a mulberry tree. Inside the box are Desdemona's braids tied with black ribbon, her wedding crowns and a silver spoon.

2. Why do Tessie and Milton want a baby daughter so badly?

Tessie feels like she is living in a "masculine household" and wants a daughter to balance the scales through common interests. Milton envisions curious conversations with his daughter about the small details of life like the Cadillac logo. Beyond this, their son, Chapter Eleven has been engaging in some "unsavory" boy activities lately like bringing a dead bird into the family's home.

3. How do Dr. Philobosian's and Uncle Pete's views on conception differ?

Dr. Philobosian is more traditional and mystical. He believes that it is "nonsense" that a child's gender can be selected by hi/her parents. Uncle Pete, on the other hand, believes in modern scientific research that demonstrates that male sperm swim faster than female sperm. Therefore, he believes that parents can influence the sex of their children by timing intercourse.

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