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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 does Hadley hope her parents will do once she moved away from home?

2. Why do some women return their borrowed babies quickly?

3. What happens to men who fail their genetic screening?

4. What did Hadley's parents tell her she could do once she failed her genetic screening?

5. What might some wealthy women do if they do not pass the genetic screening to be allowed to procreate?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where are library babies sent when they turn three?

2. What is the baby lending process at the Omaha Public Library?

3. What do some wealthy women do if they fail genetic screening?

4. Describe the area where the library babies stay until they are checked out.

5. What happens when Hadley tells her family she failed her genetic screening?

6. What happens in "Graceful Burdens" once a woman is deemed suitable for procreation?

7. Describe the card catalog in the library at the start of "Graceful Burdens."

8. Why is Sidra hired for the caretaker position at the Omaha Public Library?

9. What happens in "Graceful Burdens" to women when they reach the age of 16?

10. What is Hadley's life in Omaha like after she moves following her failed genetic screening?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay describing the imagery used in "Graceful Burdens." Indicate examples of imagery in the text and identify possible meanings.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing the narrative structure of "Graceful Burdens." What effect does this have on the story and the reader? Use direct examples from the story to support your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining the ending of "Graceful Burdens." How did the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending was effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 693 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample