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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. How does Narciso later say he lost the body part in #92?

2. What occurred during the "Ten Tragic Days"?

3. How does the little Grandfather die?

4. What happens between Narciso and Soledad when Soledad gets pregnant?

5. How had Eleuterio's father forced him to do the right thing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Celaya learn about herself as a freshman, and who is the friend who takes her under her wing?

2. What advice does Narciso's father give him regarding Soledad?

3. What is a possible reason that Fina does not like Soledad?

4. Even though they both had behaved inappropriately, how did Narciso save Inocencio from a fate similar to his own?

5. What type of child was Inocencio?

6. What are the emotional reasons that Soledad hates Celaya?

7. What illness befalls the Grandmother and how does the family react after her death?

8. Who is Ernie and what role does he play in Celaya's life?

9. What is the Grandmother's demeanor in Chicago and why does she not buy her own home?

10. Describe the glittering growth in Mexico in 1910.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Zoila. What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Zoila?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall ethnic culture for the book. What influences does ethnicity have on Cisneros' novel? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues reflected in the work?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one theme in the book related to Hispanic culture. Identify at least two themes in the novel and then cite an example to support each theme you name.

(see the answer keys)

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