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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 Curtis see when he looks up at the end of the chapter “Curtis”?

2. What do most of the gardeners plant?

3. What happens to one of the dealers at the lot in the chapter “Virgil”?

4. What happened during the big storm in “Maricela”?

5. Who is the black taxi driver that runs through the garden to water lettuce?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is Curtis’ reaction to his tomato plants?

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

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

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

7. How does Leona help Maricela see things differently?

8. Explain why Curtis and Lateesha originally broke up.

9. What is the point of the program for teen mothers?

10. Describe what happened to make Sae Young afraid of the world.

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

Maricela’s story is a very powerful one in the novel. Describe Maricela’s life at the beginning of the novel. Why does she feel so persecuted? What does she hope for? Who changes this, and why? How does the garden help her to begin to accept her state, and her future?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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