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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 does Sam get people to open up?

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

3. What does Sam try to do in the world?

4. What does Leona do to force the city to see her?

5. What does Gonzalo realize he knows of growing food?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the cultural problem Sam finds about the lot?

3. Why does Leona want to plant goldenrod?

4. Why do you think Ana attempts to correct her mistake?

5. Why do you think Wendell becomes attached to the bean plants, as Ana did?

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

7. Why do you think Ana is so suspicious of Kim?

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

9. What is the “Garcia Equation”?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Florence notes that the first gardeners were the pioneers, the original Seedfolks. Over time, how has the area changed, according to her stories? What do landlords begin to do? How did Sam’s watering efforts lead to a permanent solution? What has changed with the soil? What has been the lasting effect of the garden on the society as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

Several times in the novel, the characters mention that the community garden gives them hope. Wendell, in particular, notes that he can’t change his life, but he can use the garden to change his circumstances. Sae Young, too, uses the garden to enhance her existence, as does Nora, and other characters. Choose three characters, and explain how the garden has given them hope, or changed their lives.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 849 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample