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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. In Chapter 6, why does Gabriel remind himself that Emi is a kind person?

2. How does Buzzworm react to Margarita's death?

3. Who sees the orange roll down the street in Chapter 11?

4. In Chapter 17, what happens on the freeway near the accident site?

5. When Bobby recounts how he met Rafaela in Chapter 12, why does he say he visited her every weekend after meeting her?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Gabriel spend time near Mazatlan, Mexico in Chapter 1?

3. In Chapter 1, how is Rafaela's life in Mexico described?

4. What does Manzanar do as he watches the second fire in Chapter 19?

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

6. In Chapter 13, what is Buzzworm's plan for improving Los Angeles neighborhoods?

7. How does Bobby feel about the letter he receives in Chapter 12 about his cousin?

8. What happens when Bobby meets with the traffickers in Chapter 15?

9. After leaving the restaurant in Chapter 21, what new part of his identity does Arcangel reveal?

10. What happens during Gabriel's date with Emi in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of the news vs. entertainment in society in "Tropic of Orange"? How does the author turn this into a major theme? What does she suggest about the news?

Essay Topic 2

What is the commentary the author provides on multi-culturalism in "Tropic of Orange"? How do the characters with multi-cultural backgrounds influence this commentary? What does the movement between Mexico and the United States reveal about multi-cultural societies?

Essay Topic 3

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"?

(see the answer keys)

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