View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much money does Raphael say he can get from one half-good tire that he finds at the dumpsite?

2. What does Raphael say has happened more often to Gardo than to him?

3. At what age do most of the children stop coming to the Mission School altogether?

4. How does Rat know that the key Raphael has found belongs to a locker at the train station?

5. Raphael describes the mountains of trash as stretching from the sea to the what feature?

Short Essay Questions

1. What had Father Juilliard's original intentions been with regard to the Pascal Aguila Mission School and how had those intentions changed later?

2. What reason does Grace give for Pia Dante not having lived with her father, Jose Angelico, while he was still alive?

3. What reasons does Gardo give for wanting to be patient and putting off their visit to the train station to check out what is inside the locker?

4. When Raphael says that he and Gardo might as well be brothers, what evidence does he give to support this conclusion?

5. What are all of the items of value that Raphael and Gardo find inside the "special" (18) containing the mysterious and money-laden leather bag?

6. Why do Raphael and Gardo continue working nonchalantly after they find the leather bag full of money?

7. Though the police beat Raphael severely, leaving him bruised and battered, what actions do they threaten him with that never actually come to pass?

8. What does Grace say about where she imagines Pia Dante is now?

9. What is the main point of Grace's piece of narration from the story?

10. Describe the scene in which Raphael is taken from his home and is forced into the police car.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Few characters within the novel have particularly strong relationships with members of their biological families and by omitting key relationships with inherent biological ties, the author can redefine the notion of family within the narrative. Choose three relationships within the novel that demonstrate familial bonds, describe the circumstances surrounding these bonds, and discuss how these relationships fuel the author's message about the definition of family.

Essay Topic 2

A great number of Trash's narrators refer to the subject of trust at different points within the novel. Trace these mentions, explain each instance's circumstances, and discuss the overall message the author sends about the subject of trust. Include concrete details from the novel to support your points.

Essay Topic 3

Many instances of irony are included in the novel's narrative, including that the boys' discovery of the leather bag is both extremely lucky and extremely unlucky, since it brings both the prospect of freedom from poverty and the greatest dangers imaginable. Find three other instances of irony within the novel and discuss each instance's significance.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,100 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample