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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. Who is at Cat's place when Ursa goes to stay there?

2. What type of songs does Ursa sing?

3. What does Mutt's cousin ask Ursa that makes her mad?

4. What does Ursa say about roots when Tadpole talks to Cat?

5. What does the man between her legs say to Ursa in her dream?

Short Essay Questions

1. For whom does the doctor mistake Tadpole? What does Ursa tell him after this?

2. When Jimmy comes into Happy's to talk to Ursa, what does she want Jimmy to tell Mutt? What happens later that night between Ursa and Tadpole?

3. When Tadpole visits Ursa to make amends for what he did, what does he tell Ursa? What is Ursa's response to this?

4. What news does Tadpole have about Cat after Tadpole and Ursa's wedding? What is Ursa's reaction to the news?

5. Why does Mutt not want Ursa to sing at Happy's? What happens when they have an argument over it in the alley?

6. Who is the primary figure in Ursa's dream? What does he say to her?

7. While Ursa is staying at Cat's place, what does Cat tell Ursa about Tadpole? What does she say about Mutt?

8. Who comes to visit Cat while Ursa is staying there? What does Ursa overhear Cat say about her?

9. Whom does Ursa's grandmother say Corregidora resembles? Why would she be afraid to tell him this?

10. What does Tadpole tell Ursa about his father and what he did with his savings? What was the result of that?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ursa sings the blues onstage. Write an essay on the theme of self expression in the form of song in the novel. Why is Ursa only able to express herself through song? What conflicts does this lead to in her life? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 2

Think about the theme of generations in the novel. How is this element multifaceted? Write an essay examining the theme of generations, focusing on its effect on at least three of the characters. Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on the use of italicized text in the novel. Address its impact on both the novel and the reader. Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

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