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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 "Polepole," what is the name of "the man's" household employee?

2. In "Occupied," Ivy sees a "doppelgänger." What does she see?

3. In "Occupied," what does Ivy feel when she thinks about walking with her son?

4. In "Green Glass," what is the name of the groom at the wedding?

5. In "Occupied," what "theme" does Ivy notice among the various protest signs (39)?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the couple who are the main characters of "The Torch."

2. In "Occupied," how does Ivy feel about her friends' advice about Dexter?

3. In "Polepole," what is the significance of Bragg's wink when he leaves Daisy to talk with "the man"?

4. Describe the setting and context of "Polepole."

5. In "Polepole," what meaning does Daisy assign to the look Cecily gives her at the end of the story?

6. In "Occupied," what is the significance of the disinterested expressions on the faces of the protesters at the encampment?

7. In "Polepole," after the man tells Daisy that he "needs" to kiss her, she "felt the outline of herself begin to dissolve" (5). Why does the man have this effect on Daisy?

8. In "Occupied," what is implied by the repeated descriptions of the wind?

9. In "The Torch," how does Andrew reveal his devotion to his wife?

10. In "Polepole," what difference is there between the way Daisy and "the man" view Kibera?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical purpose of "Boston Commons at Twilight's" juxtaposition of Ned's home life against the assault that takes place when he is fifteen. Once you have made an argument about the purpose of the juxtaposition, interrogate the implicit beliefs behind this rhetorical strategy. Is some connection between his home life and his choices being drawn? If so, what? Is Ned being blamed for the choices he makes on this day, in some way? In your opinion, is his behavior different from that of most teenagers? Support your ideas with textual evidence; if you use external sources, cite them in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Some critics point out that Minot's writing appears to come from a place of privilege that marginalizes characters and concerns from outside of white, hetero-normative, middle- and upper-class society. Write an essay that responds in some way to this concern. You may affirm the idea, refute it, or qualify it. Support your ideas with textual evidence; if you use outside sources, cite them in MLA format.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about the "plant" names "Ivy" and "Daisy" in "Occupied" and "Polepole." Why are both women given "plant" names? In what way do the two names differ, and how does this highlight differences in the two characters? Support your ideas with evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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