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

2. On what rooftop is Jay walking with Seth in the beginning of "Wisdom from on High"?

3. What month is it in the beginning of "Wisdom from on High"?

4. What is printed on the hoodie that Seth gives Jay in "Wisdom from on High"?

5. Who nudges Jay awake in church in "The Word of God"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Jay gives money to the beggar girl in “A New Silence Arrives"?

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

3. Why does Jay begin to panic after arriving at the airport in “A New Silence Arrives"?

4. Who does Jay question about his missing letters in “Not an Answer to the Question"? Why?

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

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

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

8. Who does Jay encounter in Maning's office in “Not an Answer to the Question"? What happens in this encounter?

9. From what point of view is the narrative related? Why is this important?

10. How is the atmosphere around dinner described in “Every Single Surviving Word"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the character of Reyna in Patron Saints of Nothing. Where does Jay meet this character? What was her relationship to Jun? How did she come to live where she lives?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the culture, history, politics, and society of the Philippines. How does the novel reflect upon Filipino history and the effects of colonization? What aspects of its political history are highlighted? How is Filipino culture demonstrated in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of coming-of-age in Patron Saints of Nothing. In what ways does Jay grow as a character throughout his journey? How do his experiences in the Philippines change his perspective of the world? How is this theme reflected in Jay's conversation with his father at the end of the novel?

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This section contains 756 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample