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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 is one thing Anita learns about their country's leader?

2. Why is school not opening on time?

3. What does Anita help Carla do?

4. How old is Susie about to turn?

5. Why does Anita's mother say she and Anita's father are staying in the Dominican Republic?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why do parents not like their daughters to go out in public places?

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

4. How does Anita's mother talk to her for the first time?

5. How does Anita begin to see their leader in a different light?

6. What does Anita realize about Sam as she writes in her diary?

7. What do Sammy, Anita and Oscar discuss?

8. What do the secret police do and say at the compound, and what worries Anita?

9. When is school supposed to re-open and what happens at that time?

10. What does Mami say about why the family is staying in the country?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Judge whether "Before We Were Free" is a successful novel based on the characteristics of a successful novel that you identified. Fully discuss the reasons for your judgment.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if the novel is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Do you think that most adults would consider "Before We Were Free" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes "Before We Were Free" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Anita. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Chucha. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Sam. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Oscar. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

The setting for this novel is The Dominican Republic in the 1960's. Discuss the following:

1. Research the setting of The Dominican Republic in the 1960's and write a brief description of the area, its climate, the primary means of livelihood, and its location within the world.

2. Do you think The Dominican Republic is a good choice for the setting of this novel? Why or why not?

4. How different do you think the The Dominican Republic in the 1960's is from The Dominican Republic of today? Explain some differences and similarities.

5. Examine three scenes in the novel and explain how the setting influences what happens in the action of those scenes.

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