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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 the teacher tell the students at school?

2. How are protesters dressed as they move through the city?

3. What does Anita decide about men?

4. Who rescues Anita and her mami?

5. What is Pupo supposed to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Anita and Mami communicate with Mundo?

2. What does Anita overhear her father and other men talking about concerning Trujillo, and what does Anita's mother say to the men?

3. What does Papi say he wants for his children?

4. What does Anita do when she discovers she has begun her first period?

5. What does the teacher tell the students in school the day Lucinda is leaving and how does Anita react?

6. What message from Chucha does Tia Mari give Anita ?

7. What does Anita discover when she goes into Lucinda's room, and what is Anita's reaction?

8. What do Anita's diary entries for June 3, and June 5, 1961, say?

9. What does Anita know about why Americans celebrate Thanksgiving?

10. What does Anita overhear her father say about the Washburns?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book's plot is principally either character driven plot or action driven, although some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs when it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Before We Were Free " has? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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