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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 are the children allowed off the compound?

2. Why are the students unsettled about the visitors to the classroom?

3. What happens when word is taken to Tony's house that Mr. Smith's friends are there?

4. What does Lucinda say the men know about their cousins?

5. What does Anita's mother say Anita can do again when they are free?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the secret police do and say at the compound, and what worries Anita?

2. What does Anita's mother say when the children are allowed to go back to school?

3. Why does Anita use a pencil in her journal?

4. How does Anita feel when Oscar comes over to play with Sammy?

5. Upon what occasion do the people living in the compound decide to have a party?

6. What does Mami ask Anita not to do?

7. What do Sammy, Anita and Oscar discuss?

8. What does the teacher tell Carla and Anita after she goes outside to talk to Carla's mother?

9. Who comes into the classroom and what does the teacher do?

10. What does Papi explain to Anita about Carla when Anita gets home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Before We Were Free" belongs to the young-adult-novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give examples of three other genres in addition to the young-adult-novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons that it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons that it might be disadvantageous to do so.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young-adult novel and a historical mystery novel ?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of "Before We Were Free," Anita grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Anita as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, young woman. What are the significant events that change Anita?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Anita's growth throughout "Before We Were Free," do you think "Before We Were Free" could be considered Anita's coming-of-age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Before We Were Free" who go through a coming-of-age experience? If yes, who and why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 940 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample