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. What is Ignacio's mother's name?

2. Which of the following objects does Herberto illegally sell to New York?

3. What is the name of the swamp Ignacio and Blanca are working in?

4. During what decade does the Prologue take place?

5. Where are Ignacio and Blanca hoping to send the animal they are searching for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What memory haunts Reina in regards to her mother's death and visiting her at the funeral home?

2. What is Gonzalo's theory about Herberto's attackers, and how does Constancia feel about Gonzalo's theory?

3. How is Reina Aguero described by her fellow electricians?

4. How does Silvestre react to seeing Gonzalo in the hospital?

5. How do Reina and Russ Hicks meet?

6. How does Reina feel about her relationship with Russ after returning from the journey with her sister?

7. What does Dulce claim is the only thing the Cuban government cannot ration?

8. Why does Constancia travel door-to-door after Herberto goes missing?

9. In the second retelling of the final night in Zapatos Swamp, what does Ignacio remember about the moment when he shot his wife?

10. How does Ignacio meet Dr. Samuel Forrest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The mystery surrounding Reina's true father is one of the greatest mysteries in the novel. Explain why Reina does not believe Ignacio is her natural birth father, and what evidence shows up during the course of the novel to support or discount her claims. Then explain what conclusion Reina finally comes to about her patronage at the end of the novel, and why.

Essay Topic 2

Deception plays a large role in the relationships Constancia has with the men in her life. Choose two men who have been a part of Constancia's life and describe how their relationship was defined by deception, citing examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

When Reina was born, Constancia had an extremely adverse reaction to her new baby sister. Explain the way Constancia treated Reina, with at least two examples of abuse that were presented in the novel. Then, compare/contrast the reaction that both Ignacio and Blanca had to the way the two sisters interacted as children.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 847 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample