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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. Where does Sofia take a taxi to in Book 3 to escape her house where her parents are mired in worry?

2. In May 1945, how long have Sofia and Saul been married?

3. In 1942, when is one of Paolo's brothers taken by the draft?

4. What color Cadillac do Antonia and Paolo ride in after their wedding?

5. When does Joey start having Sofia supervise shipments?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Rosa sometimes wish she could seek comfort in Book 3, and why does she know it is impossible?

2. What is Joey's response when Sofia tells him she is pregnant?

3. Who is Sofia's first assignment when Joey gives her a job?

4. Where and how did Paolo's brother die?

5. What happens on May 9, 1945, and what does the narrator say will happen in three months?

6. How is Sofia's neighborhood different from Antonia's?

7. How is Paolo's love for Antonia described?

8. Why does Eli Leibovich contact Saul?

9. What is Paolo's job after the war?

10. By the beginning of 1946, what responsibilities does Sofia have for her father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joey feels guilty. Why does Joey feel guilty? Why is he not able to find absolution?

Essay Topic 2

The climax in a novel is the highest point of tension and a turning point. What is the climax of The Family and why is that incident the climax?

Essay Topic 3

In The Family, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

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