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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 was the occupation of the woman who took care of Lone after Lone's mother died?

2. To whom do Pullman's accusatory statements seem directed at?

3. What is one deed the Convent is blamed for that was actually committed by K.D.?

4. The group that first arrived to found the town of Ruby shared a common dislike for what other group?

5. What does Soane want Connie to help her with?

Short Essay Questions

1. What started the townspeople's idea that Billie was a wild child?

2. Why does Mavis buy toys every Christmas?

3. What is Richard Misner angry about?

4. How do the women react to Lone's warning that men are coming to harm them?

5. What were the circumstances surrounding Ruby Best's death?

6. What do the women of the Convent do after Connie draws their outlines on the basement floor?

7. What was Pallas Truelove's situation before she arrived at the Convent?

8. What are some possible reasons for Connie spending so much time in the basement?

9. Though she was welcomed back home by her father, why did Pallas return to the Convent?

10. Why does Lone believe that the men of Ruby want to get rid of the women at the Convent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How would you describe the overall tone of "Paradise"? Does the tone change from chapter to chapter? In the end, how much the narrator's tone affect your reception of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Examine the final line of the book. How does the final line of the book relate to the entire preceding novel? How does this conception of paradise help explain the novel's title?

(see the answer keys)

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