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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 material does Deja say had acted as the Twin Towers' "bones" (155)?

2. Ben shares with Deja that 9/11 had been the impetus for his dad's enrollment in what branch of the military?

3. How many planes in all were hijacked on 9/11?

4. What does Deja decide her mother needs above all else?

5. When Sabeen's whole family is waiting for her grandmother's reaction to Deja, what kind of girl does Sabeen's grandmother tell Deja that she is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Deja's realization that "History is alive" (101)?

2. How does Sabeen's father comfort Deja during her visit to their home?

3. How is Deja's open-minded nature depicted within her visit to Sabeen's house?

4. What is the significance of Deja leading her father through the streets of New York City?

5. What are Deja's ideas about what each member of her family needs in order to be happy?

6. How is the novel's motif of sound depicted within the scene when Deja watches the video of a plane hitting the first Twin Tower?

7. During Deja's father's visit to her school, what does he discover about Deja's teacher Miss Garcia?

8. What makes Ben a good choice of partner when Deja needs someone to go with her to the 9/11 Memorial?

9. What is the symbolism of the Avalon Family Shelter's pancakes?

10. What is the symbolism of Deja's father's briefcase?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How might Towers Falling be classified as a coming-of-age story?

Essay Topic 2

How do the themes of deception and secrecy function within the novel and what is the author's message regarding these themes?

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about Jewell Parker Rhodes's novel Towers Falling while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the book.

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