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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. In what country did Luis's family originally live?

2. Who is Seni?

3. Who does Luis's family move in with after his father loses his great job?

4. What did Luis's father vow after the accusations in the beginning of the book?

5. What job is Luis a champion at after he begins working to help support the family?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Luis's family's neighborhood and house like in Los Angeles?

2. What do Luis's early memories reveal about his feelings toward his father?

3. What do the people in "Thee Impersonations" desire?

4. Who are "Thee Impersonations"?

5. What kind of relationship does Seni and her husband have?

6. What happens when the students at Luis's father's school can't understand his accent?

7. How did Luis's family end up settling in Los Angeles?

8. How does graffiti show a rift within the gang?

9. Explain how Yuk-Yuk and Luis differ on their feelings about stealing and killing.

10. How does Luis describe his high school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the race problems at Luis's high school, including specific incidents from the book involving teachers and students. How do they affect Luis? Why?

Essay Topic 2

How does Luis's writing get discovered, and what does it do to his family's feelings about him?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the character of Chente, and compare and contrast Luis's life to his. How do you think Luis feels he compares to someone like Chente?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 574 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample