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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 does Rafaela do when she first sees Bobby in Chapter 45?

2. Why does Bobby leave for the wrestling match in Chapter 40?

3. Where do Bobby and Rafaela stand when they reunite in Chapter 45?

4. In Chapter 31, who does Buzzworm tell Emi will likely attack?

5. In Chapter 36, why are the people around Arcangel amazed with his orange?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Buzzworm keep telling Emi about the police in Chapter 31?

2. What do Buzzworm and Emi do before Emi dies?

3. What does Bobby think is strange as he drives north with Xiayue into Los Angeles?

4. What prediction does Manzanar make in Chapter 35 about the Los Angeles sporting events?

5. What does Buzzworm do once he has possession of the cooler Rafaela mailed?

6. What happens when Arcangel tries to cross the United States border in Chapter 33?

7. What happens when Arcangel gives up moving the bus in Chapter 36?

8. Why is Rafaela nervous during her bus ride with Sol and Arcangel?

9. How does Gabriel feel about the use of technology in his news reporting?

10. What does the situation on the freeway remind Manzanar of in Chapter 28?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of including historical explanations throughout this novel? When does the author tend to include these? How do they complicate, or simplify, a reader's understanding of the scene? How are the historical explanations symbolic in nature? How are they necessary background building? Consider the context of each historical explanation as well.

Essay Topic 2

The official government plays a very small physical role in this novel, yet their presence and purpose is frequently commented on, or alluded to. What is the role of the government in "Tropic of Orange"? How do the actions of the government affect the conflict in this novel and the resolution sought by the characters? What is the effect of having the government alluded to by unrelated characters instead of being a direct character itself?

Essay Topic 3

How does the author use language and tone in developing the various settings and scenes in this novel? Consider the connotations of her word choice.

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