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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 is Sidra told she is perfect for the position of caretaker?

3. How is Sidra described as an employee?

4. What is one of the factors that may eliminate a woman from being able to procreate?

5. How old are women when they need to submit to genetic screening in "Graceful Burdens"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing narrative voice in Roxane Gay's “Graceful Burdens.” Include thoughts on how the narrative voice of the story is effective in conveying the story’s themes of control, gender, and freedom.

Essay Topic 3

Write a brief essay analyzing the Roxane Gay's choice to write "Graceful Burdens" in past tense. Do you agree with this choice? How would the story be different if written in a different tense?

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This section contains 665 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample