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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 yesterday, for Kim?

2. Who cleans out the lot at the beginning of the chapter “Sam”?

3. What word does Sam use for the garden?

4. What is the “Garcia Equation”?

5. How does Ana measure the passing time in her neighborhood?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Leona finally convince the city officials to meet with her?

3. What tragedies has Wendell experienced, and what are the effects on his life?

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

5. Why does Kim wonder about whether her father sees her?

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

7. Why does Kim’s family keep a photo of their father at an alter?

8. Why do you think Kim wants to remain hidden when she plants?

9. How does gardening help Tio Juan in the chapter “Gonzalo”?

10. Do you think Ana was right to go dig up something she thought was trouble?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Suspicion of others is a major theme in the novel, as there are many who are suspicious of their neighbors in this particular area. How does the garden help these individuals to lower their guard with one another? What is the garden able to do that merely living together does not do?

Essay Topic 2

Royce does not have a chapter in the novel, and yet he is mentioned by several characters. Who mentions him, and why? What does Royce’s character bring to the novel that enhances the author’s message? What is Royce’s background, and how do people see him originally? How does this change over the course of the novel, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Kim and Curtis both use the garden to prove something. Discuss these characters in detail, and explain what the garden is helping them to prove, either to themselves, or to others, living or deceased. What are these characters able to show through their gardening? How are they able to connect to their loved ones?

(see the answer keys)

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