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. In the story Elder told Steward, what were the white men doing?

2. What does Mavis come to believe about her husband's and children's intentions toward her?

3. What time of year does the girl who arrives at the Convent at the end of the chapter say it is?

4. What color was the Cadillac originally?

5. Where were Deek and Steward born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes the men to think that the women at the Convent are perhaps not as hard working as the women in Ruby?

2. When there is a problem in Ruby who handles it?

3. Why was the town of Haven not as affected by the Great Depression as most of the rest of the country?

4. Why is Mavis' mother less than supportive when Mavis arrives at her house?

5. What is immediately noticeable about Gigi?

6. Why do some of the residents leave Haven to found the town of Ruby?

7. In addition to being respected as founders of the town of Ruby, what is another way that the Morgan twins have power over the townspeople?

8. What does Connie do to earn a meager income?

9. What conditions does Mavis's mother place on Mavis being able to stay at her house?

10. Why did the founders of Ruby decide to name the town Ruby instead of New Haven?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The racial situation in the United States during the time that "Paradise" was set was different from the situation today. Today we have the benefit of hindsight. Given what we know today, was creating their own towns the best alternative for black people given their limited options, or was it merely a form of self-imposed segregation?

Essay Topic 2

Some of the residents of Ruby seem to think that the root of all their past problems were white people. Based on the outcome of the novel and what we learn about human nature, is this believe and oversimplification? Which characters best illustrate your stance on the subject?

Essay Topic 3

Do you believe that Mavis' family really intended or even wanted to kill her? Could there be another reason for Mavis believing that her family wanted to kill her?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 731 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample