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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. How long was Trujillo El Jefe?

2. How old was Ana the first time Juan proposed?

3. What color dress does Ana buy at El Basement in Part 3?

4. At the beginning of Part 3, how long has it been since Ana tried to leave Juan?

5. What does Juan go to buy at the end of Part 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who raised Cesar and why?

2. Why does Marisela persuade Ana to give her her ring even though she has not paid the loan?

3. What happens when Ana takes a plate of food to the old lady downstairs?

4. Where does Juan get suits to sell, and how does Ana organize them?

5. What does Ana think she will do when Juan leaves for the Dominican Republic in Part 3?

6. Why does Ana's father respect the Ruiz brothers?

7. How does Ana describe the first time that Juan Ruiz proposed to her?

8. What does Ana take when she decides to go home in Part 2?

9. What does Ana learn at the end of Part 2?

10. How does Ana describe Hector and Yrene's neighborhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel takes place in the Dominican Republic and New York. Is the setting a neutral background, not important to the novel, or does the setting take on the role of a character?

Essay Topic 2

Mama used to ask Ana if she was a manatee or a shark. Why would Mama ask that question? Which was Ana—a manatee or a shark? Did that change over the course of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Marisela says, “A woman is defined by her home” (118). What are Ana and Marisela’s homes like? How do their homes define them?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 694 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample