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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 Curtis see when he looks up at the end of the chapter “Curtis”?

2. What happens to his shovel when Virgil tries to dig?

3. What does Maricela pray for?

4. What is Royce paid for this job?

5. Why does everyone give Maricela advice?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Leona help Maricela see things differently?

2. What is the point of the program for teen mothers?

3. What causes Sae Young to feel a part of the community again?

4. Why does everyone in the garden want to help the girls in the chapter “Maricela”?

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

6. Explain what Curtis does to thwart off the thieves.

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

8. Explain what happens during the rainstorm.

9. Describe Curtis, as he is now, in terms of his priorities.

10. Why does Maricela resent being pregnant?

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

How does the author use the characters to intertwine with one another? Going back through the novel, can you see links in each story to other characters? Give at least four examples of this. Why do you think the character added some of these connected details?

Essay Topic 3

Briefly go through each of the characters in the novel, and explain how the garden helped to improve their lives, circumstances, or outlook on life. Be sure to include details of each story to show an understanding of how the garden affected the characters.

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This section contains 821 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample