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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 Celaya tell her father that she wants to do?

2. Why does Celaya start having trouble at school?

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

4. Why does Narciso need surgery?

5. What does Zoila have the kids do on the day the Grandmother dies?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Zoila's view on her fate as a woman, and how does she perceive her daughter?

2. What lie did Narciso tell about his three missing ribs and what is the truth of the story?

3. Why does Celaya want to leave school and what is her father's response to her idea?

4. What type of child was Inocencio?

5. How does Fina feel about her mother, Soledad, after her father dies?

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

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

8. What role does storytelling play in the family's life?

9. How does the Grandmother's behavior depress Celaya?

10. What position does Soledad take regarding her life when her son is born?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

CARAMELO is a classic story of a family's efforts to preserve the past and secure heritage through stories and customs. What does that classification entail? Why does Cisneros' work in this book fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Cisneros uses more than one instance of irony in the story. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony. What is the major irony in the story? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,288 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample