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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 comes near Kino when he is watching the water on the first morning?

2. Who paddles Kino's canoe in Chapter 2?

3. Who are the first ones to arrive after Coyotito is stung?

4. What is not mentioned as something near the coast of the beach?

5. As he holds the pearl in his hand in Chapter 3, which two songs merge together in Kino's head?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Kino want Coyotito to go to school?

2. How does the narrator describe Juana’s appearance?

3. Why does Kino become afraid after talking about his dreams?

4. Where is the big oyster located underwater? Why is this location significant?

5. Why does Kino always have a song in his head?

6. When does the first hint of the Song of Evil come to Kino with his pearl? What does the song represent?

7. What does the Song of the Family symbolize to Kino?

8. Why does Juana not believe the poultice to be a good solution for Coyotito?

9. Why does Juana call for Kino when she sees Coyotito in Chapter 2?

10. What are the two colors that make up the canoes that line the beach? What do you think these colors represent symbolically?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Race is an important theme throughout the novel. Discuss how race is shown and how this tension causes problems for Kino and his family.

1.) How would a less-biased response from the doctor or his servant at the gate affected the rest of the story? Would the outcome be different if the doctor had treated Coyotito from his scorpion bite initially? Why or why not?

2.) How do the pearl buyers represent the oppression that a biased social structure brings to the community? How do they work against the divers and prevent a fair deal?

3.) How does this racial situation affect Kino's response to the dead man he stabbed?

Essay Topic 2

The town is described as a colonial animal. How does this metaphor affect the novel?

1.) Describe how news travels in the town.

2.) Describe how the town works together in certain situations. Does it seem that there is a division between Kino and his family versus the town and villagers? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

One of Kino's dreams is to own a rifle. After he says this, the villagers react in awe and even Juana is amazed at his bravery. Why is this dream of owning a rifle an ironic wish once the end of the story is over? What does the rifle symbolize to Kino and the villagers and what role does it ultimately represent in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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