View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Gabriel say he bought the property near Mazatlan, Mexico?

2. When Bobby recounts how he met Rafaela in Chapter 12, why does he say he visited her every weekend after meeting her?

3. In Chapter 6, what does Gabriel realize is wrong with his house in Mexico?

4. In Chapter 1, what advice does Rafaela give Gabriel about his house in Mexico?

5. In Chapter 12, why is Bobby told to go to Mexico?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the characters react to the appearance of crabs in Chapter 10?

2. In Chapter 13, what is Buzzworm's plan for improving Los Angeles neighborhoods?

3. What happens when Emi brings up cultural diversity in Chapter 20?

4. In Chapter 7, what does Arcangel say about his past?

5. In Chapter 16, what raises Buzzworm's suspicion about the deaths of his friends?

6. How does Gabriel choose the trees for his landscaping in Mexico?

7. How does the accident in Chapter 8 affect the characters of this novel?

8. In Chapter 1, how is Rafaela's life in Mexico described?

9. Why does Rafaela leave Bobby?

10. What does Bobby think about his disagreements with Rafaela before she left for Mexico?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of the news vs. entertainment in society in "Tropic of Orange"? How does the author turn this into a major theme? What does she suggest about the news?

Essay Topic 2

What does "Tropic of Orange" reveal about relations between the United States and Mexico? Research the history of this relationship and compare it to the depiction of the relationship in this novel. Consider how the citizens interact as well as the official governments.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the narrative devices used in "Tropic of Orange". Consider the multiple narratives, shifts in voices and shifts in time. What is the impact on this novel's characters and plot development? How does this influence the development of the major themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 901 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample