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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 Omar ask Ben in Chapter 30?

2. In Chapter 13, what does Mitsuko buy?

3. Where is Ximena's husband from?

4. Why does Ben think his father might be worse than he thought for a moment when he goes to visit his father?

5. What job does Mitsuko have in Japan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who startles Ben by asking him out on a date in Part II?

2. What does Ben's father say about his sexuality in Chapter 19 that is entirely offensive?

3. How does Ben feel about his job at the daycare?

4. What is one of the most striking similarities between Mike's parents and Ben's parents?

5. Why does Ben think his father could be worse than he thought when he first sees his father in Part II?

6. When does Mike tell Ben he will come back to America in Chapter 22?

7. What is awkward for Benson about Mike leaving for Osaka in Chapter 1?

8. In Chapter 15, what does Ben's father ask him that makes Ben realize how lonely his father is?

9. What embarrasses Ben about his father when they go out to dinner together in Chapter 19?

10. What does Lydia ask Ben to do in Part I?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Ben the closest to - and who is he the most trusting of - in his own immediate family? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the most significant challenges and problems in Ben's and Mike's relationship throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How does the reader find out that Benson is HIV positive, and why do you think Washington chose to let the reader know this information at this point in the book and in this manner? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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