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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. Which of the following words completes this sentence taken from Ignacio's deathbed note, "The quest for truth is far more glorious than the quest for ___________ ."

2. How many volumes of books does Reina keep in her apartment?

3. What nickname does Reina receive from her co-workers?

4. Whose funeral do Herberto and Constancia attend together?

5. How long does Reina sit in the Cuban government's office before she receives the answer about her visa to travel to America?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Blanca's mental health deteriorate while she is pregnant with Constancia?

2. How does Ignacio meet Dr. Samuel Forrest?

3. Why does Reina visit La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre?

4. How does Reina feel about Dulce having children?

5. How does Silvestre react to seeing Gonzalo in the hospital?

6. What answers does Ignacio finally give to the readers as to his motivations in killing Blanca and lying to his daughters?

7. How does Ignacio react after his wife dies in the swamp?

8. Why does Constancia visit Oscar Pinago?

9. How does Reina skirt the Cuban government's system for processing travel visas?

10. What happens when Dulce meets Bengt and returns to his hotel with him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Money seems to be the one driving force in Dulce Aguero's life. Explain what Dulce's life was like while she was living in Cuba and why the prostitution jobs she took seemed necessary. Then, explain how Dulce's quest for financial stability affected the romantic relationships in her life.

Essay Topic 2

Reina's life in Cuba was heavily influenced by the presence of her deceased parents. Describe a day in Reina's life while she was living in Cuba and explain how the memory of her parents haunted every aspect of her life.

Essay Topic 3

When Reina was born, Constancia had an extremely adverse reaction to her new baby sister. Explain the way Constancia treated Reina, with at least two examples of abuse that were presented in the novel. Then, compare/contrast the reaction that both Ignacio and Blanca had to the way the two sisters interacted as children.

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