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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 are the names the girls called their mother to make fun of her leisure activity?

2. What did the other students at the American school think of the background of the sisters?

3. What do the sisters blindfold their dad with when they play a game?

4. What hangs from the belts of the two men who help Yolanda when her car breaks down?

5. Who did the marijuana belong to?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the girls' mother view finding the marijuana? What does this symbolize for the mother?

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

3. What does Yolanda think when she sees the snow falling? Where does she get this idea?

4. When the girls are successful at removing Sofia from the island, what does this mean for Sofia and her future? Did the girls help their sister or hurt her?

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. Why does the father say they fired Gladys? Why is trust so important to this family? How much to they rely on the servants for help?

7. When the father returns from the U.S. what is he discussing with his wife? Why are they talking about the skyrocketing prices in the U.S.?

8. What was Rudy's family background? Why was this so fascinating to Yolanda? How did his background affect his personality?

9. How does Mr. Garcia escape? What are the girls allowed to take with them? What will happen to the house when they are gone?

10. How does the author describe the public schools in New York?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If the key to life is happiness, who is happy at the end of the novel? Who do you think made the transition to America with the greatest ease? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Is there a link between learning and the arts? Describe each daughter and the mother and their unique artistic talents. Who teaches the children about art? How is learning about art enhanced once the family arrives in the States?

Essay Topic 3

What is the relationship between the servants and the family on the island? Does this change once they reach the States? Why? Why not? How do the children relate to the servants? Is their relationship different from the parents? Why?

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