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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. Why does Elsie Moreau not want to associate with the new neighbors who are also from Haiti?

2. What do the twins in ""The Mark of Cain" do for a living?

3. What does William Livingston III do to Sarah at her apartment?

4. What is Bianca drawn to on the playground on her first date with her husband?

5. What does a crazy woman think about while walking down the street in the story "Difficult Women"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does the young, working-class couple watch reality television in the story "Florida"?

3. Why do Savvie and Carolina not have to worry about money or finances?

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

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

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

7. In "Difficult Women," what does Gay say a loose woman sees in the mirror and why?

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

9. Why does Carolina tell Savvie she decided to marry Darryl?

10. Why does Sarah let everyone assume she is white in the story "La Negra Blanca"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing what you think the narrator's source of power and control over her husband in the story "Open Marriage" seems to be. Why does the narrator seem so completely unconcerned when her husband suggests they engage in an open marriage?

Essay Topic 2

In the story "Baby Arm," how is the fact that the narrator deliberately maintains an emotional detachment from her boyfriend, Gus, related to her attraction to the fight club that she organizes with Tate? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text.

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.

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