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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 is the name of the waiter who takes a fall at the Bluementhals party?

2. Where did Blanca go before she disappeared and never came back?

3. In "Bilingual," what time does Olga have Dick's driver take her to her brother's fundraising event?

4. In "Champaign Dreams," how long has it been since Olga met Igor?

5. How old was Reggie when he left Puerto Rico?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Olga stop an argument between Prieto and Reggie King?

2. Who was Olga named after?

3. Why does Tia Lola think Blance was a terrible mother?

4. In "Champagne Dreams," how does Olga work with Igor?

5. Why does Tia Lola say she never minded mothering Olga?

6. How does Olga feel when she sees Matteo at the wedding?

7. What does Olga say when Matteo thinks maybe they need to break off their relationship after she does not communicate with him for three days?

8. Where does Prieto remember that he and his sister went after his father died, and what did they do?

9. Why does Reggie meet Olga in "Los Panuelos Negros"?

10. What does Olga tell Matteo about her father's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Olga Dies Dreaming, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 2

Dick believes he is a very important man. Why does Dick believe that he is a very important man? How does his view of himself cause his breakup with Olga?

Essay Topic 3

A character arc is the inner journey of a character in a book. What is Olga’s character arc, and what situations influence her growth and transformation?

(see the answer keys)

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