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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 Arcangel say he is from?

2. How does Manzanar say he quit his job at the hospital?

3. Why does Arcangel have a difficult time in the restaurant in Chapter 21?

4. In Chapter 21, where does Arcangel go after eating at the restaurant?

5. Why does Gabriel say he bought the property near Mazatlan, Mexico?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gabriel say he will do if he wins the Pulitzer Prize?

2. In Chapter 7, why does the crowd of people distrust Arcangel?

3. What does Bobby think about his disagreements with Rafaela before she left for Mexico?

4. Why does Rafaela steal from Dona Maria in Chapter 18?

5. In Chapter 14, what does Emi learn about the car accident?

6. Why does Gabriel say things haven't seem right in Chapter 9?

7. How does the accident in Chapter 8 affect the characters of this novel?

8. What history of Gabriel's work is given in Chapter 6?

9. In Chapter 7, what does Arcangel say about his past?

10. What does Arcangel do when he sees a broken down truck holding up traffic in Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What commentary on crime does the author provide in "Tropic or Orange"? Describe and analyze the different crimes committed throughout this novel to reveal a message about crime in American society. How do the characters react to these crimes? How do the criminals justify their crimes? In what ways is crime detailed to be a negative human behavior? A positive human behavior? What is the role of crime in the greater context of society?

Essay Topic 2

How is "Tropic of Orange" a satire? Define the genre and consider the aspects of this novel that fit the description. How can you account for the aspects of this novel that do not appear to be straight satire? What makes satire an effective, or appropriate, genre for the message of "Tropic of Orange"?

Essay Topic 3

The homeless population play a central role in this novel, although most remain unknown characters. Consider how the characters in "Tropic of Orange" relate to the homeless. How does this large group work as a single character? What is the commentary this novel provides on the homeless?

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