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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 "Saturday," Chapter Six, why is Rafa struggling and being weighed down by the reading of shadows?

2. Rufina initially does not sing but does what in the plaza on Saturday?

3. When did the Sotos arrive?

4. From where are the Sotos?

5. Who was Rosalinda's reason to keep on living, once she reached this town?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the angel do when Rufina is in the trunk?

2. What did the Explorer do with Rosalinda and her children?

3. Why does anxiety soon set in for Rufina on Saturday morning?

4. What is the ride home like for the siblings in Lucio Armijo’s squad car?

5. What does Officer Armijo do with the Kid Thief after he drops the siblings off at their home?

6. In "Saturday," Chapter Two, on what do the siblings focus while they are performing in the town square?

7. Who are the townspeople in "Saturday," Chapter Two that the narrator describes?

8. How does the Kid Thief act when spotted by Rafa and caught by Officer Armijo?

9. What are the signs that Rufina is struggling to perform for the crowd? Why is she struggling?

10. What does Rafa do, when Rufina is unable to perform on Saturday?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The angel is a celestial being, yet she is very sympathetic to grief, particularly the grief of Rufina and Rafa. Why might she be this way? What is her special connection with these siblings? How does this affect her actions in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Lucio forever regrets not being able to save Rufina from the Explorer. How is this seen in his day to day life? How does the end of the book allow him to redeem himself? What might this mean for his future?

Essay Topic 3

The narrator regularly goes back and gives the reader a view of the town and its people. Why might he or she do this? What is the importance of this return to the environment of the main characters? How does this affect the reader?

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