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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. Who did Jenny have sex with out of revenge when she learned that Reymundo was seeing China?

2. Why did Reymundo decide he didn't want to be a part of the gang in #77?

3. Where was Reymundo born?

4. In what year was Reymundo born?

5. What item of Pedro's did Reymundo sell to get booze and marijuana?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Reymundo rationalize his first killing spree and what gang accepted him after that?

2. Describe the incident where Pedro severely beats Reymundo who appeals to his mother -- who also beats him.

3. What sleeping arrangements did Reymundo and China have at Maria's?

4. What was Reymundo's life like when he lived with Hector?

5. Why was Reymundo exempt from the usual act of violence to join a group when he decided on the Latin Kings?

6. What did Jenny tell Reymundo about her and Speedy that made him so angry that he put his life at risk and ended up badly beaten in the hospital?

7. Describe the incident in which Reymundo was kicked out of the Spanish Lords clubhouse because a Chi-West member stole Crazy's gang sweater.

8. How did Reymundo's life change after he was branded a coward?

9. Describe the traumatic and dysfunctional beginning of Reymundo's life in Puerto Rico.

10. What did both Maria and Hector do to help Reymundo go to school and live a relatively normal life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of demographics in the makeup of gangs. What was the racial demographic? What was the age demographic? Why were youths in poverty-level households more susceptible to gang influence?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Violence takes on an almost human persona in this book. What was the source of the violence? How pervasive was the violence among the gangs? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

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