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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 big event is happening for Ben's friend he works at the daycare with in the coming weeks?

2. Where does Ben leave Mike's car on the day of Ximena's wedding?

3. Who was one of Ben's father's girlfriends who he remembers?

4. Who are the two brothers at Ben's daycare?

5. What job does Mitsuko have in Japan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lydia, Ben's sister, think of Mike?

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

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

4. In Chapter 25, how does Ben react when his mother takes him to her new house for the first time?

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

6. How does Ben feel about his mother's new husband and family?

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

8. What is one of Ben's father's most serious problems?

9. What painful story does Ben tell Mike about his father growing up in Chapter 26?

10. What do Ben and Mitsuko start doing together in the apartment in Part I?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Washington build suspense about what has really happened between Benson and Mike right before Mike's mother comes to visit and Mike leaves for Japan? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What kind of a friend is Ximena to Ben, and what benefits does he seem to glean from their friendship? 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)

This section contains 673 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample