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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 does Virgil’s father do in America?

2. Who from the garden community speaks to Sae Young first?

3. Why does Royce sleep in the garden?

4. Where is Amir from?

5. What happens to his shovel when Virgil tries to dig?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nora want to tell the tourists of the garden?

2. What does Amir learn about his misconceptions of cultures?

3. What happens to the lettuce in the chapter “Virgil”?

4. What is Curtis trying to show through the growth of the tomatoes?

5. What causes Sae Young to feel a part of the community again?

6. Explain Sae Young’s life prior to her “accident”?

7. Why does Virgil eventually feel pity for his father?

8. How does Amir compare the U.S. to India?

9. How does Leona help Maricela see things differently?

10. Why does Virgil’s father lie to Mrs. Fleck, and what does he say?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think the author was trying to get across with this novel? What was the primary theme? Was the author successful? How did the book make you feel? Did the author convince you of his primary point in writing the novel? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Briefly go through each of the characters in the novel, and explain how the garden helped to improve their lives, circumstances, or outlook on life. Be sure to include details of each story to show an understanding of how the garden affected the characters.

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)

This section contains 753 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample