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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 family currently owns the land the Samsodien family is claiming?

2. In what country is the novel primarily set?

3. What is Hortensia's former profession?

4. How many children does Marion have?

5. What does Hortensia observe Marion doing from her window?

Short Essay Questions

1. What shocking news does the lawyer Mr. Marx reveal to Hortensia?

2. How do Hortensia and Marion first meet?

3. Why does Marion enjoy working with Frikkie on her home reconstruction?

4. Why does Mr. Marx insist that Hortensia meet Esme?

5. Why does Marion prefer her dog to her late husband?

6. What is Marion’s current financial predicament in Chapter Three?

7. Why can Marion not sell the painting herself?

8. Why does Hortensia arrange for Marion to be her nurse?

9. Describe the interaction in which Marion is forced to fire Agnes. Why is she being fired? How does each women handle this news?

10. Why do Marion and Hortensia argue over the remodel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the novel explain the development of Marion’s racism? What specific scenes from her childhood cause her to develop in the manner that she does?

Essay Topic 2

At the beginning of the novel Marion is undoubtedly racist, but by the end of the novel she admits to having a problem. How and why does Marion change? Do you think this change will last? Provide evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

What are the origins of Marion and Hortensia’s feud? Point to examples from the novel that indicate how their mutual loathing developed and why it became so fierce.

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