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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. How long do Sophie and her aunt sit in a van on their way to Sophie's grandmother?

2. How do Sophie and her grandmother react to Louise at the market?

3. What happens the second time Sophie's mother tries to test her?

4. Where is Sophie's made up boyfriend?

5. What has arrived for the family the day an outsider joins for supper?

Short Essay Questions

1. Sophie calls Joseph back at her mother's apartment. What is their conversation about?

2. After the argument between the Macoute and the coal vendor, what does Sophie's grandmother tell Sophie about aunt Atie's recent behavior?

3. What does Sophie do for herself and for her baby in the morning, in Chapter 16?

4. Two special events happen during dinner in Chapter 20. Which two events are different than other nights?

5. Sophie asks her grandmother why mothers test their children. What does her grandmother answer?

6. Sophie and her grandmother sit and listen to night sounds one night after dinner. What do they hear?

7. What happens the night Sophie's mother introduces her boyfriend Marc to Sophie and what do they talk about?

8. What story does Sophie think about when she goes to bed with a pestle?

9. What has changed in Sophie's life when the third book opens with Chapter 13?

10. Describe the events surrounding the Mother's Day card Sophie intends to give her Aunt Atie.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Erzulie, the Voodoo goddess of love, is mentioned in a few chapters. Why is she so important in the book? Which episodes do you remember about Erzulie and in which stories is she important?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the book, Danticat emphasizes the roles religion and superstition play in the characters' lives. Give five examples of where religion or superstition are mentioned and explain these examples in depth.

Essay Topic 3

Talk about the relationship between Sophie and her mother and how it changes over the course of the book. Compare their relationship through the four books. Do you think both women came to terms with each other? Why do you think that?

(see the answer keys)

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