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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 did Deek buy when he first came to Connie?

2. How does Patricia feel about the views she believes Richard is teaching to the young people?

3. What two families display open animosity?

4. Who is the man who has secret meetings with Connie?

5. What is one of the mishaps that the men of Ruby blame on the women of the Convent?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Mavis buy toys every Christmas?

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

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

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

6. Why do the Fleetwoods blame Lone for problems with their grandchildren, and what evidence is there that the situation was not Lone's fault?

7. What do some of the people that try to stop the massacre seem more concerned about than the welfare of the women of the Convent?

8. What are some of K.D.'s thoughts about marriage that indicate that he still has an immature or naïve worldview?

9. What is Richard Misner angry about?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

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?

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This section contains 861 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample