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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 is the name of the girl who thinks a spirit possessed her mother?

2. How much money does Dona Teresinha give Carolina so that she can take Vera to the circus?

3. What is a flophouse?

4. What does Senhor Joao ask Carolina?

5. Which canned item do men throw from trucks on May 16th?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Carolina ignore the second summons to take Jose Carlos to court?

2. What are the politicians of Brazil like around the year 1955?

3. What does Carolina think of alcohol?

4. What happens to Carolina when she shows her plays to the directors of the circuses?

5. Why do Carolina's children often have coffee for breakfast?

6. How does Vera flatter women to get money?

7. Describe "pinga."

8. Why does Carolina say that the women are worse than the men in the favelas?

9. Why are Carolina's sacks of paper burned at the end of her 1955 entry?

10. Why are people afraid of Leila?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The tall buildings of Sao Paulo are a symbol to the people in the favela. Carolina mentions them several different times in her diary entries. Write an essay that goes into detail and explains why the buildings are a symbol to the people. What do they represent? Why do the people of the favela aspire to go there and be part of common society? Use examples from the book to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

For the most part the police are hardly mentioned in Carolina's diary entries. Only a few times does she write about them showing up in the favela. In her opinion, the police do not and cannot help the people. Write an essay that explains whether or not Carolina is right in her harsh opinions of law enforcement. Why does she feel the way she does about the subject? In the past, what has happened when people called the police? Use examples from the book to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Family is a theme that runs strongly throughout Child of the Dark. While not all families are perfect, Carolina writes about them often. Write an essay that explores the theme of family as it pertains to the autobiography. In which instances does family prove to be an important element throughout the book? What is the family dynamic like for most families in the favela? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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