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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 Celia tell her daughter not to bring in the house?

2. Who is Pilar able to communicate telepathically with?

3. What does Celia do on the 11th of every month for 25 years?

4. What unique talent does Pilar have?

5. At what time of Celia's life does she go to live with Tia Alicia?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why must a goat be sacrificed to help Felicia?

2. How does Lourdes respond when soldiers first come to the ranch where she and Rufino live?

3. What confuses Celia about her success as a judge in the town cases?

4. Why does Celia worry about Ivanito's looks?

5. When Celia's great aunt takes her to the santera, what prediction is made for Celia's life?

6. How does Lourdes connect with her husband?

7. How does Rufino bond with his daughter Pilar?

8. What is significant about Celia's son being born with a caul?

9. According to rumors, why have yanquis ringed the island with nuclear poison?

10. What qualities make Lourdes an irritating force to her family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Jorge become a prominent figure in Lourdes's life only after his death? Why does he speak to Lourdes and not Celia, Felicia, or Javier? How do Jorge's insights influence other members of the family?

Essay Topic 2

What significance does Ivanito leaving Cuba at the end of the novel have? Why doesn't Celia have a say in this decision? Why does Pilar choose not to share the decision with Celia when she has a chance?

Essay Topic 3

Pilar has a strong, psychic connection with her grandmother, Celia, as well as a unique ability to recall details of her life. Yet, Pilar's identity is weak. Why might Pilar have a weak sense of identity? What role do her family members play in shaping her identity? How might her experience leaving home help strengthen her identity?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 679 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample