View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was left in the house when Manuel finally came home from his drinking binge?

2. According to Manny, what did Mr. Hart's office smell like?

3. Who tried to buy Manuel a drink after Rebecca found Manuel's hiding place?

4. What special talent did Nardo's grandmother claim that he had?

5. Manny told Manuel that if he shot Rebecca, he would be thrown in jail. Manny asked Manuel to think of what would happen to Manuel's children then. Manuel replies that he only cares about one family member. Who is it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was it so uncomfortable for Manny to be within the weighing area where the chili peppers were weighed out for measuring how much each person would be paid?

2. What is the significance of Manuel's words to Manny after he snatched the $20l from Manny's pocket?

3. What is significant about how Rebecca behaved during the scene in which the police came into the Hernandez's home?

4. How does the theme of "otherness" emerge within the aftermath of the Immigration officers' removal of the illegal immigrants from the field?

5. What did Manuel do with the $20 he took from Manny's pocket?

6. How is the theme of racism demonstrated within the scene when Manny asks the secretary for his transcripts?

7. What kind of relationship did Manny's father and mother have?

8. What parallel did Manny draw between his grandfather Ignacio's personality and his own personality?

9. What was the main reason Nardo was reluctant to work in the fields?

10. What is the significance of Manny's daydream about being on the baseball team and having people looking at him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trace the characterization arc of Manny’s character throughout the novel. Discuss whether he is a round or flat character and whether he is a static or dynamic character. Use concrete details to support your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the treatment of the unconscious within the novel, in particular focusing on dreams and second sight. Why are these elements included by the author and what effect do they have on the reader's understanding of the novel's themes and messages? Use concrete details from the narrative to support your points.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the topic of work within the novel. Look at Manny's description of inheriting his grandfather Ignacio's "useful blood" (6) and the contrasting attitudes toward work displayed by Nardo and Manuel. Look also at other discussions of work and ambition in the novel, such as Manny's pronouncement of Albert's risky decision to join the boxing team since he was academically inclined, and pull concrete details from those examples to support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,552 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample