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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 is NOT something General Rodrigo de Aguilar has in common with Ambassador Norton?

2. How long will it be until the next comet passes?

3. Both as a tribute to his mother and as a joke, people begin to send the General which of the following gifts?

4. Where do the wild parrots learn the song mocking the General?

5. Who was the only general to not consume alcohol?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the General stop appearing in the city alongside the group of senators?

2. Which group is the exception to the General's rebuilding policy?

3. Why does the General relocate his mother to a mansion in the suburbs?

4. How does the General prepare for the coming hurricane?

5. What is the General's "second death"?

6. How are the leaders of a failed rebellion killed?

7. How does Saturno Santos come to work for the General and why must he stop?

8. What happens to the Defense Minister?

9. What happens at the meeting of the Federalist Generals?

10. What is the General's "first death"? Describe the circumstances and provide details.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of the animal imagery in the novel. How does Marquez use animals to create an effect? What is this effect? Consider images such as the cow saluting the nation from the balcony in your response. Be sure to bolster your argument with support from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of repetition in the novel. This, unlike many other works of fiction, is a novel loaded with motifs and repeated descriptions of events. How does this affect the overall structure of the work? What does this technique contribute to Garcia's overall message in the work. Use specific evidence from the text to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the way in which Gabriel Garcia Marquez treats politics and dictatorships in the novel. What is he saying about dictatorship? Does his General resemble any historical dictators? If so, what effect does this resemblance have on the purpose of the book? Be sure to provide specific evidence from the text as you write your essay.

(see the answer keys)

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