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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 kind of prisoners is Mary Teresa kept with?

2. What does Dede have to become when her sisters are killed?

3. How did Minerva die?

4. Who is Rufino?

5. Why is it hard for Patria to visit her husband?

Short Essay Questions

1. What task is put on Dede when her sisters die?

2. How are the sisters’ children cared for after they die?

3. How does Mary Teresa report her struggles in prison?

4. Why is Leandro moved to a different prison?

5. Who is Victor, and how is he important to the plot?

6. How does this book end?

7. How does Minerva respond to the failure of what she puts her hope in after being released from prison?

8. Who is Rufino and why is he important to the plot?

9. What happens to Mary Teresa in prison?

10. Why is Nelson released from prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author places some information about the Dominican Republic throughout this book for us. Why do you think she did that, and how did this affect the pace of the book?

Essay Topic 2

Enrique feels betrayed by some important parts of his life. Who does he feel has betrayed him and why?

Essay Topic 3

The sisters meet their death at the end of the book. How is this experience different than they had originally anticipated?

(see the answer keys)

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