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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 do the children take with them when they leave Mr. Hamilton's?

2. How did Clara actually meet Ryan?

3. What do the Jones and Iqbal families watch on November 10, 1989?

4. What sport did Archie compete in at the Olympics?

5. What does Archie buy to celebrate his impending fatherhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Samad have to make up the name of a holiday for Poppy Burt-Jones?

2. How does Clara's speech change when she is excited?

3. What is the "End of the World Party 1975"?

4. How does the Pakistani community react to Magid's having been sent away?

5. What does Alsana mean when she says that Clara's baby and her own will have "daddy-long-legs" for fathers?

6. What is Archie's theory about the incident involving Pande?

7. What is Samad's rationale for driving off into the country with the prisoner and eventually killing him?

8. What does Alsana feel is the biggest difference that divides people?

9. Describe the difference between Millat and Magid Iqbal.

10. What argument does Neena have with Alsana?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does FutureMouse and Joyce Chalfen's gardening parallel the relationship that Joyce and Marcus develop with Millat and Irie?

Essay Topic 2

Several of Smith's male characters have aspirations to being heroes. Choose two characters and compare and contrast their feelings about heroism and what, if anything, they do to achieve that status.

Essay Topic 3

Religion plays a large part in this novel. Please choose two characters and discuss how their religion--or lack of same--affects their life and story, and how it corresponds with their identity.

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