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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 Chapter 3, what color VW Beetle does Lydia inspect?

2. What type of gum did Lydia's mother always buy?

3. What is the name of the woman who checks Luca and Lydia into The Casa del Migrante?

4. What tattoo does Luca see on a man's leg in Chapter 12?

5. In Chapter 3, how much money does Lydia withdraw from the bank?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Luca see at the end of Chapter 12 when he goes to the bathroom?

2. What do Neli and Julia say about the price to el norte?

3. Why is the Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada special to Lydia?

4. Why might it have been a good idea for Luca to see the violence in the backyard?

5. In Chapter 13, why does Lydia remember running when she learned that a reporter had been killed?

6. In Chapter 9, how do Lydia and Luca spend their time at Carlos and Meredith's house?

7. Why do Lydia and Luca get off the bus in Chilpancingo?

8. Why does the detective at Lydia's house not contradict her when she says that the cartel will kill her too?

9. In Chapter 3, why is Lydia cautious when she approaches the family's car?

10. In Chapter 5, how does Lydia know that Javier has found them at the hotel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beto is a young boy on his own. Where did Beto live? Why is he alone? What challenges does he face? What is conveyed about perseverance through the way he faces the challenges in his life?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

Javier seems to be a very nice person from his discussions with Lydia in the bookstore. What does Lydia think of Javier before she learns who he is? How does her opinion of him change? What does the commander do that seems in contrast to the violence he and his men perpetrate? What is revealed about duality from the behavior of these men?

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