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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 do Ruth and Amanda try to do to get some news?

2. How long ago had the Washingtons bought the house?

3. What does Clay do for a living?

4. What is Amanda worried about concerning the Washingtons?

5. What did the listing for the vacation house say?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 17, what do Ruth and Amanda work on together that helps them bond just a little?

2. What does Ruth notice that she does not like about Clay's and Amanda's presence in the house?

3. Why does Clay indulge Rose's request to take many books to the beach?

4. What happens to Clay that unsettles him in Chapter 16?

5. What is Rose's and Archie's relationship like?

6. In Chapter 10, what does Amanda tell Clay she wishes she had of his that she does not actually mean?

7. What is Clay's and Amanda's first impression of the Washingtons in Chapter 7?

8. Why do G.H. and Ruth say they did not want to go back into New York City?

9. In Chapter 14, what does Ruth tell G.H. she is thinking about in terms of happy memories?

10. What does Clay think when G.H. Washington tells him where he lives in New York City?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Ruth is so afraid - and so insistent that G.H. not leave her in trying to help Clay and Archie towards the end of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Alam approach issues of race and class as they relate to Clay, Amanda, Ruth, and G.H.? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Did you find the conclusion of this novel satisfactory as a reader? Write an essay explaining why or why not, supporting your arguments with specific references to the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 672 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample