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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. Where did Luis's father meet his mother?

2. Who usually doesn't go to the "real beach?"

3. What is the gang's connection to the vacant lot?

4. Why did Yuk-yuk get his nickname?

5. What did Luis do with his toys that first Christmas?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Luis's problem with stealing and killing come to a head at the concession stand?

4. How does Luis describe his mother at the beginning of the book?

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

6. What happens to the person who took up the challenge to fight with the whites at the beach?

7. Who is Yuk Yuk and what influence does he has on Luis's life?

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

9. Who are "Thee Impersonations"?

10. What happens to Clavo's feelings about the gang after he is shot in the eye?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the community's response to the escalation of gang violence, and how does it help or hurt Luis?

Essay Topic 2

Describe what leads to Luis being kicked out of the house and into the garage. What prompts Luis's mother to be fed up with him? How does it make Luis feel? Why does he turn to drugs?

Essay Topic 3

What does Yuk-Yuk teach Luis about stealing? And why is stealing more attractive to Luis than the menial jobs he took at 9 years-old to help support the family?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 650 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample