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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 the housekeeper who works for William Livingston?

2. What is Sarah's secret about her heritage?

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

4. What tattoo do the twins in "The Mark of Cain" both have?

5. Where has Kate just taken a new job in the story "North Country"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do all the women in the narrator's and Tate's "fight club" seem to get out of the experience in "Baby Arm"?

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

3. What shocking realization does the narrator come to at the end of "The Mark of Cain"?

4. What is the background of the narrator's boyfriend, Gus, bringing her plastic body parts in the story "Baby Arm"?

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

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

7. Why does Bianca agree to go out with Dean and initially start a relationship with him?

8. How does Tricia judge the clients she cleans houses for in the story "Florida"?

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

10. What does Sal do to Caridad in the story "Florida" that upsets and offends Caridad?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Write an essay exploring how Gay uses the idea of bone density in the story "Bone Density" both literally and figuratively to highlight the divisions and discord between the narrator and her husband, citing specific references to the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing why the stone-thrower's wife, the unnamed glass woman, decides not to confront the stone-thrower about his ongoing affair with his mistress. Cite specific references from the story to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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