View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Keith take with him the next time he runs away?

2. How many dead people does Lauren see on her way to get baptized?

3. Where does Lauren's dad usually hold his services?

4. How old is Lauren on her birthday?

5. Where do most families in the neighborhood get their news?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why doesn't Bankole want to bury the bones initially?

2. Why doesn't anyone bother calling the fire department after the fire?

3. Why is it dangerous for Bankole's brother-in-law to do odd jobs for cash?

4. What does Bankole say is the cause of all the human bones on the highway?

5. What's causing the chaos after the earthquake?

6. What does Zahra say she prefers life with Richard to life with her mother?

7. Why does Cory say that poverty leads to cleaner streets?

8. Why are some families opposed to having guns?

9. Why does Lauren's dad return to Robledo?

10. Why is it safer to be dirty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain what environmental changes occur in America at the time of the story. How does this affect the social fabric? What effects does it have on Lauren and the other characters? What environmental considerations do the travelers take into account when planning the community at Acorn?

Essay Topic 2

Lauren says early in the novel that God might just be whatever it is that makes you feel "special and protected". She outlines various different ways people conceptualize God. For each of the following ideas of God, cite examples from the text that show people believing in this type of Deity, and explain how this belief influences the character's actions:

a. God as a "super person"--Big Daddy, Cop, King, etc.

b. God as a punisher.

c. God as Nature.

d. God as a spirit/a force/ the ultimate reality.

Essay Topic 3

Explain whether or not you classify this novel as science fiction. What elements of science fiction are present?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 634 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample