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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 evening of the week is it in the beginning of "Wisdom from on High"?

2. When is Jun's letter dated in "Things Inside"?

3. How old is Grace said to be in “A New Silence Arrives”?

4. What does Grace do for much of the car ride in “A New Silence Arrives”?

5. How does Jay's mother say Jun died in "An Improvement to Society"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jay feel about his future plans in the beginning of the novel?

2. What did Jun write about wanting to be when he grew up in his letter from "Things Inside"? How was he criticized for this?

3. What information does Jay's father relate to Jay about Jun's death in the beginning of the novel?

4. Describe Jay's dream in “A Visit." What imagery is used in the dream?

5. What do Jun's letters symbolize to Jay?

6. What does Jay promise Grace in “All That it Means"? Why?

7. How are Angel and Grace's demeanors described in “A New Silence Arrives"?

8. Where does Grace take Jay in "Lead the Way"? Why is this surprising?

9. Where does Jay live? Where was he born and where did he grow up?

10. Who is Rodrigo Duterte and how does he factor into the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Grace in Patron Saints of Nothing. What is Grace's relationship to Jay? How does their relationship evolve in the course of the narrative? What are Grace's objectives in the novel? Does she achieve those objectives?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the setting of the slums in Patron Saints of Nothing. What brings Jay and Mia here? Who goes with them? What does Jay observe about the people of the slums and their homes?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Jay's feelings of ambivalence about his future in the beginning of Patron Saints of Nothing. Where has Jay been accepted to college? Do you think he would have been more excited about attending if he had been accepted to the other schools where he applied? Why or why not?

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This section contains 745 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample