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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 is Eliza trying to feel when she hugs Miriam's gift to her face?

2. Where does Miriam rediscover her favorite word?

3. What household duties does Saul handle?

4. Where does Aaron meet Chali?

5. What does every teacher tell every child to do at precisely 11 am at McKinley Elementary School?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Miriam decide against stealing from the second house in this section?

2. When does Miriam first discover the word perfectimundo?

3. How does Eliza think she is different from her family before she wins the spelling bee contest?

4. What was Saul's relationship like with his father Hank?

5. How did Miriam cause her Dutch governess to lose her job?

6. What does Eliza feel about the picture of her family in the newspaper?

7. What does Eliza remember seeing happening to her brother when she was in kindergarten?

8. Describe Saul's relationship with his children at the beginning of this book?

9. How is Miriam sexual voracity causing problems for Saul in this section?

10. Why does Aaron feel rejected by his father in this section?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Within the context of the story, what does the word perfectimundo symbolize? Why does the author use a slang type word to symbolize this?

Essay Topic 2

Why does the Hare Krishna religion appeal to Aaron? What was it about the other religions that he didn't like? How do you think Aaron's religious ideas will develop in the future?

Essay Topic 3

How does the author foreshadow the problems that occur late in the book? Why is foreshadowing important to a story?

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This section contains 818 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample