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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 man who gave Gerardo a ride home?

2. Where is the person in question #1 sitting?

3. What happens to many students when the military was in control of the country?

4. What does Paulina say about Schubert?

5. What has Roberto heard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Gerardo going to tell Paulina about what he thinks Roberto is going to do?

2. How is Gerardo acting when he comes in the house?

3. What does Gerardo say when Paulina asks who was in the car?

4. What does Gerardo tell Paulina and who is at the door?

5. What does Roberto say about Paulina to Gerardo and how does Gerardo respond?

6. What does Paulina do before she leaves the house?

7. How do Gerardo and Paulina enter the scene and what do they do?

8. What does Paulina say about Schubert to Roberto?

9. What does Roberto see when he awakes?

10. What does Gerardo tell Paulina was missing from his car and what does she say?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The fact that this scene is set just before dawn could be symbolic of the dawn of realization that Roberto is not exempt from retaliation for his past deeds.

1. Why do you think the dawn could symbolize justice for Roberto?

2. At this point in the play Paulina is convinced Roberto is guilty, though Gerardo is not. As a reader do you believe Paulina's assertion? Why or why not?

3. If dawn might symbolize justice, could it also symbolize bringing the past to light? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Paulina still wants to know how many times Gerardo slept with the other woman. He finally admits to doing so a total of five times. He asks if she truly wants them to torture each other in this way.

1. Why do you think Paulina would try to get a specific number out of Gerardo?

2. What do you think of Gerardo's character after finding out he was with another woman while she was being tortured? Why?

3. Do you think it was easier or more difficult for Paulina to forgive her husband for being with another woman because she was in prison? Would it have been more difficult, do you think, if she had been at home? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

We are left wondering whether she would actually shoot him at the end of Act 2, Scene 1. Or would Gerardo forget something in the house and return to stop her? We are then forced to literally look at ourselves and those around us. What would each of us do in the same situation? Would we shoot, or let him live the rest of his days with his terrible secret?

1. Do you think you would do what Paulina is doing in her circumstances? Why or why not?

2. Do you think living with what he has done is worse punishment than killing him? Why or why not?

3. If you were a police officer called to the scene of Paulina killing Roberto, after listening to the confession, what would you do? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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