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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. To what is Valentin afraid he could become addicted?

2. What does Valentin say about constantly escaping reality through movies - it can become a ______.

3. What does Molina have to do when he's in front of the Warden?

4. Where does the main character of the next story go to visit his/her father?

5. What is the woman doing when she is first approached by the man?

Short Essay Questions

1. What story is the newspaper reporter working on back at his office?

2. Why will Irena not let the man kiss her when he wants to, even though they have fallen in love?

3. How has Valentin been tortured?

4. Describe Leni and what happens to her in the beginning of the new movie story.

5. What does the Mafia husband do when he finds his wife?

6. What happens to the race car driver in the beginning of the new story Molina starts?

7. What does Molina suggest in order to make the Warden's suggestion all the more realistic?

8. What does the husband tell the zombie woman as he is dying?

9. What does the letter Valentin receives reveal to him?

10. Why is Leni interrogated as a result of the events that occur in relation to the chorus girl?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While the idea of escapism is rampant in this story, Valentin has different rules for himself in terms of what he can and cannot do.

Part 1: List the personal rules Valentin has for himself from the beginning of the story.

Part 2: Why does Valentin want to go to the infirmary when he is ill?

Part 3: Does Valentin's internal rule set change as the story progresses? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of love is one that emerges right from the beginning of the story when Molina tells the story of the movie. The theme of love continues to emerge in the subsequent chapters.

Part 1: How is love portrayed in this story? In what ways does Puig describe it to the audience?

Part 2: Does love seem to be a positive or a negative force in the lives of these men? Support your answer.

Part 3: In what ways is love made larger than life in this story?

Essay Topic 3

While Molina is revealed to be a homosexual, it is interesting that he does not show any interest in fighting for his own rights.

Part 1: Why do you think Puig decided to make the character of Molina a homosexual? What might be the reasoning?

Part 2: Why doesn't Molina want to fight for his rights? What reasons might he have for staying quiet?

Part 3: Do you think Molina's view of activism for himself has changed at the end of the story? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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