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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 speech was Yolanda asked to deliver at school that her mother helped her with?

2. What kind of flowers did John bring home to Yolanda?

3. Who was Yolanda's psychiatrist?

4. What did Sofia's father find in her room when she was young woman that caused a stir?

5. What does the cantina owner offer Yolanda to drink?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. What is the response by the aunts to Yolanda's wish to take a drive in the country? Why do they all react this way? What do they warn Yolanda about?

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

5. What does Yolanda see in her sleep every night? What does this mean? She continues to see the same image after they move to America and as an adult? What does Yolanda think it is?

6. It is clear from the moment the men in khakis walk up the driveway of the Garcia home that the Garcias have a plan in case of danger. What is their plan and how do they execute it?

7. What insults did John say to Yolanda? Was he teasing, or was he serious? Was the relationship really abusive, or was Yolanda putting her own spin on her memory?

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

9. How did Yolanda decide to leave John? What did she perceive was happening? What do you think was really happening?

10. Why does Chucha not think it is a good idea for Carla to be back in the maid's room? What does this say about the relationships between the servants and the family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare life in the Dominican Republic and life in America for the girls. What changed when they moved to America? What was better? What was worse? How did their relationships with their cousins change? How did their parents change? Discuss daily life and school life as well as their change in social class.

Essay Topic 2

Why do all the servants who work for the family have wild backgrounds? Why do some of the servants dabble in voodoo or magic? How does all this relate to Sandi curing one of the servant's children and the sculptor using her face as the face of the Virgin Mary? What does this say about the society at large on the island?

Essay Topic 3

The story is filled with sexual overtones. What role does sexual independence play in the lives of the girls? How does this cause conflict with their parents and family? As adults, how do the daughters view sex?

(see the answer keys)

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