View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Senhor Joao ask Carolina?

2. Who tries to sell Carolina bananas and lettuce?

3. What are Carolina's boys eating when she gets home on May 21st?

4. What does Carolina bring to the Negress's house?

5. Who has a sister that dies from drinking poison?

Short Essay Questions

1. List four of the foods Carolina most commonly buys with the money she earns.

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

3. Why are people afraid of Leila?

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

5. What are some of the things political candidates promise the favelados?

6. According to the first entry, describe Carolina.

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

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

9. According to the first entry, describe Vera.

10. What does Carolina think of people who live along the riverbank?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Politics is an element that is written about often throughout the diary entries. Carolina feels very strongly for the subject. Write an essay that explores the theme of politics as it pertains to Child of the Dark. What are politicians like during this time in Brazil? What sort of promises did they make to the poor and the people of the favela? Were most of the politicians truthful in their promises to the people? Be sure to provide examples to support your opinions.

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

The pacing of Child of the Dark is very different than most books and autobiographies. Since the story is told through diary entries, certain events are embellished or forgotten by the author. Write an essay that explains why the pacing of Child of the Dark is significant. Which major events play a role in the rising action? What is the climax of the story? What is the falling action of the story? How is the pacing of the book unique when paired with similarly written autobiographies? Be sure to provide examples to support your opinions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 808 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample