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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where were the girls when the marijuana was found?
(a) Travelling abroad.
(b) In their room.
(c) On the island.
(d) Away at school.

2. At the beginning of the novel, how do the aunts and cousins view Yolanda?
(a) Like a young Spanish princess.
(b) Like a Peace Corps girl who has let herself go.
(c) Like a professional woman.
(d) Like a hippie.

3. Why was Yolanda so pleased with the speech she wrote for school?
(a) She wrote the speech in Spanish.
(b) She finally sounded like herself in English.
(c) Because her father liked it.
(d) She felt she was a rebel.

4. What invitation did the mother give to the person she met at the hospital?
(a) She invited him to dinner.
(b) She invited him to lunch.
(c) She invited him to hold her grandchild.
(d) She invited him to name the baby.

5. What is Yolanda's name in Spanish?
(a) Josie.
(b) John.
(c) Yo.
(d) Yazi.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who appeared at all of Yolanda's poetry readings?

2. What do the candles on the cake represent?

3. When Rudy and Yolanda wrote together, what was the outcome?

4. Which sister has a baby?

5. What did John always do with his clothes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is important about the dinner with the Fannings? Why is it so important to the girls' parents?

2. What is the significance of the father asking for a cab to go to dinner?

3. Why are the boys not interested in Yolanda once she gets to college? What changed between high school and college?

4. What was the mother missing about Yolanda's poetry? When she went to the readings, what did she think she was hearing?

5. What is significant about the rift between Sofia and her father? What does this say about his attitudes in their new country?

6. What is the code that Mrs. Garcia sends to Don Victor via Chino? What does it mean? Is this also part of the safety plan?

7. When Sandi falls and breaks her arm who carries her to safety? Why does Sandi cling to this person? What mixed emotions are played out in this scene?

8. Why did Carla want red sneakers? Why was the color so important?

9. Whose face is on the statue at the National Cathedral? Who carved the statue? What is Sandi's reaction to seeing her own face reflected back at her?

10. Why does Sofia give her father the wet kiss in his ear? What is she trying to prove to her father? Why does this anger her father?

(see the answer keys)

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