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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 luxury does Celaya's family have that makes them feel rich?

2. What is a chillona?

3. Who is Celaya's father?

4. The Grandmother is perpetually hungry for _______________.

5. How does the Grandfather generally treat Celaya?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Soledad's Aunty Fina.

2. What are the two criteria to determine a person's class?

3. Why does the family rely on little white lies?

4. Why does Celaya's afternoon out with her mother turn into a family crisis?

5. Describe the childhood of the Awful Grandmother and what role rebozos played in her life.

6. What does the family do when they arrive in Acapulco?

7. Where does Inocencio take the family for a holiday, and who complicates the situation by inviting herself to go along?

8. Describe Celaya's house and its furnishings.

9. Why is the girl, Candelaria, pressed into service for the Grandmother?

10. How is the Grandmother conflicted by what she wants for her family and what she is physically able to provide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for Celaya's life. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, socialization, etc.

Essay Topic 2

Cisneros is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, and then briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one theme in the novel. Identify at least two themes in the story and then cite an example to support each theme.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,124 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample