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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 excuse does Birdie give Ali for being away for so many years?

2. According to Ronnie Parkman, how long do Deck and Cole stay in Brazil?

3. What type of career does Sandy claim Grandfather Goldman held?

4. Why does Deck leave Brazil?

5. Which character offers Birdie a ride home from town in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why won't Sandy allow Birdie to try and contact Deck and Cole in Brazil?

2. Who is Jim?

3. How does Birdie attempt to find her father and Cole in Chapter 16?

4. How does Birdie endanger her and Sandy's cover story?

5. How does Nicholas offend Birdie in Chapter 10?

6. Why does Birdie imagine she is doing a school report for her old Nkrumah school?

7. Describe Corvette.

8. Why does Jim scold Birdie for lying?

9. How does Birdie finance her trip to California?

10. What mementos does Birdie find stashed in her mother's room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Birdie and Cole's secret language. Why might they have felt it necessary to develop the language? How does it bind them in the beginning of the novel and how is it used later in the novel? What does it represent to the biracial sisters?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the significance of Birdie's relationship to Nicholas. What lesson does Sandy teach Birdie about men and how does Nicholas fit into that lesson? What role does race play in Birdie's relationship with Nicholas? How might their relationship change once Birdie has established a life in Berkeley?

Essay Topic 3

How does Birdie's perceived race affect her status in society? What strengths will she need to develop as an adult in order to thrive in American society? How might living in Berkeley affect her outlook on people of mixed race?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,048 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample