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1. Describe China Iron's life before she leaves on her journey with Liz.

China Iron lives with La Negra and El Negro, a Black couple, when she is a small child; no one knows where she came from. She is neglected and abused by them, and ultimately given in marriage to Martín Fierro when she is still a child, in order to settle a gambling debt. She lives in poverty with the abusive Martín and bears him two children, all before she is 14 years old.

2. How does China Iron get her name, and where do its parts come from?

China Iron has no name when she is younger; "China" is Argentinian slang for a woman, and this is all she has ever been called. When Liz discovers this, she suggests the name "Josephina," which China Iron likes. She adopts this as "China Josephine" and then takes "Star," from her dog's name "Estreya," and "Iron," from her husband's name, "Fierro."

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