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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. What does Papi tell the family to pretend?

2. When was school supposed to start back up again?

3. What does Anita's mother want her to do with her diary?

4. Why does Anita go to her uncle's house?

5. What is one topic Anita and her mother discuss?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Anita's mother send Anita to Tio Toni's home on her way to the party?

2. What are Carla and her siblings told to do when they get home, and what does Carla do?

3. What do Sammy, Anita and Oscar discuss?

4. Where is Anita at the opening of the story, and what is she doing?

5. What does Anita's mother say when the children are allowed to go back to school?

6. How does Mami feel about the Washburns living next door and what does she do because of that?

7. The morning after Chucha moves in, who arrives at the compound after Anita's father leaves?

8. What happens when the teacher wants the children to play secret Santa for Christmas?

9. Who is moving in next door, and why is Anita particularly happy about it?

10. Who comes into the classroom and what does the teacher do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot? Define any elements that you list. Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Before We Were Free," identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot or the various elements? Why or why not?

3. Identify the major sub-plots in "Before We Were Free," identifying their various elements. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. How do you define loyalty? Is the ability and desire to be loyal an admirable trait in humans? Why or why not? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being loyal to a person? A cause? A country? An idea? What do you think about blind loyalty; that is, what to do think of those who are loyal to something no matter what they learn about that person, thing, ideal, country, etc.

2. Discuss and analyze why you think Mr. Washburn remains loyal to Anita's family. Is it warranted? Wise? Earned? What other instances of loyalty occur in "Before We Were Free"? Is El Jefe's son's loyalty to his father admirable?

3. What other admirable traits besides loyalty are depicted in "Before We Were Free"? Discuss fully two of those traits with specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Before We Were Free."

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea or concept you think may have been a part of the Alvarez's agenda. Analyze that idea as it appears throughout the book and discuss Alvarez's probable agenda concerning that idea.

3. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

4. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

5. Research the life of Julia Alvarez to see if her life may have influenced her writing and, if so, where and how?

(see the answer keys)

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