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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. Where do Lourdes and Rufino decide to live?

2. What condition does Celia suffer from that she describes in one of her letters?

3. What foods does Felicia insist will purify, in Ordinary Seductions: The Fire Between Them?

4. Who is the judge during the civil trial?

5. Who does Pilar talk to, at length, on a bus ride?

Short Essay Questions

1. What agreement for marriage do Jorge and Celia make?

2. What does Celia tell Gustavo she does when she hears Jorge has been in a terrible accident?

3. What confuses Celia about her success as a judge in the town cases?

4. What qualities make Lourdes an irritating force to her family?

5. What happens when the soldiers return to the ranch?

6. Why does Jorge allow his sister and mother to terrorize Celia?

7. What happens to Celia after her parents divorce?

8. What commitment does Celia make after Jorge dies?

9. Why does Celia say her father was murdered?

10. Why does Celia practice the smiles of her youth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What might seem unique about Celia's life? What unique gifts does Celia possess? Which quality might help her deal with the loss of her husband?

Essay Topic 2

Pilar has a strong, psychic connection with her grandmother, Celia, as well as a unique ability to recall details of her life. Yet, Pilar's identity is weak. Why might Pilar have a weak sense of identity? What role do her family members play in shaping her identity? How might her experience leaving home help strengthen her identity?

Essay Topic 3

What significance does Ivanito leaving Cuba at the end of the novel have? Why doesn't Celia have a say in this decision? Why does Pilar choose not to share the decision with Celia when she has a chance?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 628 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample