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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 month of the year is known as the "month of anniversaries" in the Ali home?

2. What class does Mikey take with Vinu Viljoen?

3. What does Joao ask Lydia to do at the party?

4. How does Kate package the papers on Du Boise she has stolen for Mikey?

5. What celebrity did Michael see when he witnessed the convoy of cars outside the birthday party?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Silas react to Vinu being at Mam Agnes' anniversary party?

2. How does Silas react to Lydia's birthday gift to him?

3. What story of abuse does Vinu tell Michael when she meets him at his home?

4. Why does Michael travel back to the city where he grew up?

5. How did Ali Ali end up living in South Africa?

6. How did Ouma Angel die?

7. How does Lydia react to the news that Du Boise is dead?

8. How does Silas react to having Lydia back in their home to recover?

9. What happens between Lydia and Mikey when Silas leaves the house after a fight with his wife?

10. How does Lydia's life change after she returns from the hospital?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The marriage between Silas and Lydia is marked by infidelities. Create a timeline of infidelities committed by both Silas and Lydia, and explain what effect these infidelities had on their marriage. Then, explain why the two decide to stay together when it is obvious they no longer love each other.

Essay Topic 2

The character of Vinu provides an interesting foil for the drama that Michael is enduring. Briefly describe Vinu's character and explain why Michael is so interested in her story of abuse. Then, explain how Michael exploits Vinu's personal history to promote his own agenda in the political world.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, Silas's two work friends, Kate and Julian, have a large effect on the problems that happen in the Ali family. Briefly describe both Kate and Julian's characters as well as their relationships to Silas. Then, give one example for the ways each of these characters irrevocably change the relationships in the Ali family, leading toward their inevitable demise.

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