View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. For what two reasons does Deja decide she would not tell Ray about 9/11?

2. In what years were the Twin Towers finished?

3. How does Pop reply when Deja tells him she does not want to leave her school?

4. When Sabeen's father tells Deja that she would be a good Muslim, she replies that she just wants to be what?

5. For what reason is Deja embarrassed when she must remove her shoes in the entryway of Sabeen's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What major realization does Deja have at the end of the day when Pop visits her school?

2. How does being friends with Sabeen and Ben change Deja's negative outlook on her own life?

3. What does the baklava symbolize within the narrative when Deja gives a container of it to a homeless man?

4. What is the symbolism of mourning doves within the narrative?

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

6. How is the theme of guilt brought up within the dinner at Sabeen's house?

7. What is the connection between Pop's briefcase and Deja's realization that "Pop survived 9/11" (146)?

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

9. How does Ben feel about his new home of New York City in relation to his previous home of Arizona?

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

Look carefully at the passages of the novel that describe the close relationship among Deja, Ben, and Sabeen. What is the author's purpose for discussing at length the nature of the connection among these three friends?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

What is the function of Miss Garcia's character within the novel? Discuss the characterization methods used by the author in depicting Miss Garcia and include in your discussion the reasons that the author portrays this character in these particular ways.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,276 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample