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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 disease does Danticat's father Mira suffer from?

2. Who was secretly pregnant in 1974?

3. Why does Danticat's father lose his job on the day they arrive in the United States from Haiti?

4. What does Danticat's brother Karl say when she tells him she is pregnant?

5. What are some of the side effects of Danticat's treatment for her illness in 1980?

Short Essay Questions

1. What scary story does Granme Melina tell the children in Joseph's house in the section titled "Good-bye"?

2. Why does Joseph start to take the children in his house on simple errands with him following his laryngectomy?

3. What does Danticat remember most fondly about Marie Micheline's kindness towards her as a young child?

4. In the section titled "Have You Enjoyed Your Life?", what does the herbalist Danticat's father takes her to tell her about her health?

5. How does Danticat react when she sees her pregnancy test is positive?

6. In the section titled Good-bye, how does Danticat remember neighbors treating her Uncle Joseph after his tracheotomy?

7. What does Danticat's mother do for her in preparation for her leaving for the United States in the section titled "Heartstrings, Shoestrings"?

8. In the section titled "We're All Dying," what does Danticat's friend tell her when Danticat informs her about how ill her father is?

9. What eventually happens with Marie Micheline's first husband, Pressoir?

10. What does Danticat's mother give to her at the last possible minute at the airport to take with her on the plane?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the faith that both Joseph and Mira place in herbal and alternative medicine. Where does the tradition that they follow seem to have originated?

Essay Topic 2

What were Joseph's and Mira's first experiences with and impressions of Americans, respectively? How do you think each man's impressions of Americans and of America changed over their lifetimes? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 3

At several points in the book, traditional Haitian food is brought out to provide comfort and security. Write an essay exploring the importance of traditional dishes, cooking, and Haitian food to Danticat and her family.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 859 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample