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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 Dr. Urbino see perched on rooftops throughout the city?

2. What event within the household prevents Dr. Urbino from getting his siesta?

3. How many years were Fermina and Dr. Urbino married when the soap in the bathroom incident occurred?

4. How does Fermina treat Florentino when she comes face to face with him in the market place?

5. Why had the school expelled Fermina Daza?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of things does the author use to describe the depressing decline of the city where Dr. Urbino returns to after leaving Paris?

2. Why does America Vicuna tell Florentino he won't marry?

3. Whose conscience does the parrot seem to represent?

4. How does Fermina Daza feel about Europe?

5. What does Florentino fear will put an end to his plans to win over Fermina?

6. Why did Fermina decide to go and live with her cousin?

7. What surprises Florentino when he sees Fermina after two years of living with her cousin?

8. What is one reason that Florentino considers himself old?

9. What does Florentino document in twenty-five notebooks?

10. What happens to Florentino for two weeks after he makes his second declaration of love to Fermina?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do you believe this story had a happy ending? Why or why not? Use specific details from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the relevance of the balloon ride across the country that Fermina and Dr. Urbina took.

Essay Topic 3

In this novel, characters commit suicide or think about committing suicide. Describe events and ideas that occur throughout the novel which may have led these characters to commit suicide. Be specific and detailed in your writing.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 536 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample