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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 praise does the Italian woman give to Amir?

2. By the end of the chapter “Maricela”, what is Maricela no longer praying for?

3. What does Amir grow?

4. To where did Curtis move?

5. What does Nora bring for Mr. Myles to plant?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is Nora’s relationship with Mr. Myles?

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

5. Explain why Virgil becomes angry and ashamed at his father.

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

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

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

9. Why does everyone in the garden want to help the girls in the chapter “Maricela”?

10. Describe Curtis, as he is now, in terms of his priorities.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, Sam makes a conscious effort to make the neighborhood friendlier. Choose three times in the novel where another character mentions Sam, and explain how his efforts have helped the community. Why do you think Sam tries to improve his neighborhood? Are his efforts successful?

Essay Topic 2

Going back through the characters, list the cultural heritage each comes from. How diverse is this neighborhood? Would the garden have been as amazing had the neighborhood been predominately white or Hispanic? Why or why not? How did the activities in the garden go from what Sam noted, a mirror of a segregated society, to what Amir noted, as a harvest feast among a cultural melting pot?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 773 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample