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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. Where does Kim think someone might be sleeping?

2. What is the result of Leona’s efforts with the city?

3. Why does Leona know about complaining to officials?

4. What did Leona’s grandma lay on the graves of her physicians?

5. What does Wendell do that evening, after being frightened?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sam try to make people in the neighborhood friendlier?

2. How do the plants give Wendell hope?

3. What is the “Garcia Equation”?

4. Why does Kim plant beans in the vacant lot?

5. Kim mentions crying for a different reason than her sisters. What does she mean by this?

6. Why does Ana describe her neighborhood in terms of the cultures within it?

7. Why does Ana purchase binoculars at the end of the chapter titled “Ana”?

8. What are Leona’s experiences with calling the city?

9. Why do you think Tio Juan becomes “childish” in the book?

10. Describe the bottle incident, and Sam’s fears.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A primary theme in the novel is the ability of human kind to change their circumstances, if they choose. In the book, several characters change not only their own lives, but the lives of others through their actions. Choose two characters, and explain how their presence in the garden, and their actions, have helped change the lives of others. What does this say about the power of human kind, if they work together? Why is this important?

Essay Topic 2

Sam mentions the garden as a paradise, and compares it to Eden. Wendell points out a biblical verse “A child shall lead them.” Sam notes that the garden is a reflection of society. If this is the case, compare and contrast the society depicted by those in the beginning of the novel with the society depicted by those at the end of the novel. Do you think the garden was the only thing responsible for the change? Why or why not? How did Leona, Sam, Nora, Sae Young, and the other characters all help to make the community a better place?

Essay Topic 3

Gonzalo learns a valuable lesson in the novel as he witnesses his father being less than perfect. This moment has a profound impact on him in the book, as his emotions follow the realization. Explain how Gonzalo’s processing of his father’s imperfections leads him to an understanding about his father. What did Gonzalo learn?

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