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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 position does Ignacio apply for on Dr. Samuel Forrest's team?

2. What ailment affects Constancia's son?

3. What does Soledad attempt to throw at the bird she sees through the window?

4. Whose arrival are the people of Cuba celebrating on the day Ignacio is born?

5. How does Constancia react to the birth of her new baby sister?

Short Essay Questions

1. What theory does Pepin Beltrán have about Reina's insomnia?

2. How does Constancia treat Herberto's dead body?

3. How does Constancia react to Reina's theories about their father killing their mother?

4. Why does Constancia visit Oscar Pinago?

5. What memory haunts Reina in regards to her mother's death and visiting her at the funeral home?

6. How does Reina feel about her relationship with Russ after returning from the journey with her sister?

7. In the second retelling of the final night in Zapatos Swamp, what does Ignacio remember about the moment when he shot his wife?

8. How is Reina Aguero described by her fellow electricians?

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

10. What is Gonzalo's theory about Herberto's attackers, and how does Constancia feel about Gonzalo's theory?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Reina's view of love and sexuality was very strange in romantic relationships. Choose two romantic relationships Reina was a part of and compare/contrast them. What roles does Reina play in the relationships, and to whom does she choose to show affection? How?

Essay Topic 3

There are many theories in the novel as to why Ignacio decided to kill his wife, Blanca. Explain what the various theories about his motivations in the swamp were, and support each theory with the evidence given as to Ignacio's time in the Zapatos Swamp on the fateful night in which Blanca died.

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This section contains 906 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample