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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 effect does death have on girls in the story "Difficult Women"?

2. Which identical twin does the narrator in "The Mark of Cain" prefer?

3. Why do the couple that live in 1217 Ridgewood Road in the story "Florida" get their GEDs instead of finishing high school?

4. Who is the unnamed narrator's best friend in the story "Baby Arm"?

5. In the story "La Negra Blanca," what name does Sarah go by at the strip club where she works?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the narrator in "The Mark of Cain" decide not to let on that she knows her husband switches places with his twin?

2. What is the real reason that Carolina insists Savvie accompany her to find Darryl in Reno?

3. What event eventually brings Kate and Magnus back together?

4. What is the basis of Carolina's and Savvie's strong bond in "I Will Follow You"?

5. What does Marcy like about the exercise classes in the story "Florida"?

6. Why is Alvarez hesitant to get more involved with Sarah in "La Negra Blanca," even though he adores her?

7. Why does Magnus get angry with Kate and ignore her calls for weeks?

8. In the story "Difficult Women," what is it about death that makes girls more interesting?

9. Why does Sarah, who goes by Sierra at work, perform at a strip club?

10. When does the narrator begin to think that Cassie, Jacob's girlfriend, may be smarter than she seems?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring what seems to motivate Anna Lisa to leave her baby with the narrator, a woman she does not appear to know very well, in "Break All the Way Down." Why does the narrator feel compelled to continue to punish herself for what happened to her young son? Cite specific references to the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

In the story "Difficult Women," Gay outlines the characteristics of four categories of women - loose women, frigid women, crazy women, and mothers. Write an essay exploring why you think Gay included mothers as her fourth category of so-called "difficult" women, citing specific references to the text to explain your answer. If you choose, you may cite examples from other stories in the collection exploring Gay's treatment of mothers and issues surrounding motherhood to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In the story "La Negra Blanca," what does the character Alvarez symbolize? How does Alvarez's status as an undocumented immigrant affect Sarah's decision not to go to the police after William Livingston rapes her? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text.

(see the answer keys)

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