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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. Where does Esperanza go to check on things on the morning after the strike?

2. When Esperanza asks Isabel for news that she has heard at school, what is the new construction that Isabel tells them about?

3. Chapter 10 is entitled "The Avocados." What is the significance of the avocados in this chapter?

4. How does Esperanza get back and forth to the camp from the hospital?

5. Who does Esperanza find hiding after the officials leave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Chapter 10 is entitled Los Aguacates, the avocados. Why is this a meaningful title for this particular chapter?

2. How does Miguel's attitude toward his job being taken away differ from Esperanza's position about this injustice?

3. When Esperanza details the things she misses about her mother, why is she so surprised at herself?

4. In what way is Mama's illness a commentary on the working conditions of the migrant workers?

5. How is the act of Esperanza's gift of the porcelain doll symbolic?

6. As Miguel and Esperanza drive to the market, what does Esperanza notice, apparently for the first time about herself?

7. How does Esperanza's babysitting skills progress as Chapter 8 develops?

8. When the doctor comes to examine Mama and diagnose her illness, how does Esperanza react?

9. Where are Esperanza's sympathies with regard to the strikers?

10. Isabel wants to be the May Day Queen. When she tells Esperanza this, what is ironic about her reason for wanting to be this queen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina author or illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. Esperanza Rising received this award. Explain why this work deserves this award. In other words, evaluate the work in terms of the criteria for the award.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 2 of Esperanza Rising, Esperanza is at a low point and her grandmother reminds her of a story she has told Esperanza many times, the myth of the phoenix rising out of its own ashes. What is inspirational about this myth and why is it appropriate that Abuelita, rather than any other character, be the one to refer to this myth at this time?

Essay Topic 3

How might the concept of family be part of a theme of Esperanza Rising?

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