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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. What does Saw Young feel a part of?

2. What does Virgil’s father plant?

3. What do many of the gardeners do in the chapter “Amir”?

4. What is the result of the rainstorm?

5. What does the garden remind Amir of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Curtis’ reaction to his tomato plants?

2. What happens to the lettuce in the chapter “Virgil”?

3. Describe what happened to make Sae Young afraid of the world.

4. How does Amir compare the U.S. to India?

5. Explain what happens during the rainstorm.

6. What does Amir learn about his misconceptions of cultures?

7. Why does Virgil eventually feel pity for his father?

8. Describe what Nora does to allow Mr. Myles to garden.

9. Why does Nora want to tell the tourists of the garden?

10. What does Virgil find in the ground, and what does he eventually use it for?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sam mentions the garden as a paradise, and compares it to Eden. Wendell points out a biblical verse “A child shall lead them.” Sam notes that the garden is a reflection of society. If this is the case, compare and contrast the society depicted by those in the beginning of the novel with the society depicted by those at the end of the novel. Do you think the garden was the only thing responsible for the change? Why or why not? How did Leona, Sam, Nora, Sae Young, and the other characters all help to make the community a better place?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, the characters mention fighting a number of stereotypes. Choose three characters from the book, and explain how their lives have been impacted by the stereotypes either about them, held by others, or held by them about others. How do these stereotypes damage their relationships with others? What, if anything, changes them in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

A primary theme in the novel is the ability of human kind to change their circumstances, if they choose. In the book, several characters change not only their own lives, but the lives of others through their actions. Choose two characters, and explain how their presence in the garden, and their actions, have helped change the lives of others. What does this say about the power of human kind, if they work together? Why is this important?

(see the answer keys)

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