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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 Emi say she is going as she dies?

2. After the man in the black Jaguar attacks Rafaela, what does she see?

3. What names does Arcangel give the United States Customs officials?

4. In Chapter 34, why is Bobby confident he can get Xiayue across the United States border?

5. Why does Arcangel end up moving the bus he was riding on in Chapter 33?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Gabriel and Emi's attitudes toward the news differ in Chapters 26 and 27?

2. What happens after the gun is fired in Chapter 42?

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

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

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

6. What is "What's the Buzz?"

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

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

9. Why is Buzzworm concerned about the herion injected in oranges when he hears about it in Chapter 22?

10. What happens when Gabriel goes to Mazatlan in Chapter 32?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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?

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This section contains 844 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample