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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 is the only thing for which Xiomara is thankful on Thanksgiving Day?

2. Xiomara states that boys have wanted to kiss her ever since she turned what age?

3. Mami says that she had been on a journey toward what when she had instead married Papi?

4. The poem "Can't Tell Me Nothing" ends with the line, "At least there's" (254) what?

5. Which poetry club member is from The Bronx?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what purpose does Xiomara use the metaphor of a balloon to describe her feelings when she sees Cody?

2. What activity does Xiomara decide that she wants to share with Aman and why?

3. In what way does the theme of appearance versus reality appear within Xiomara's fight with Mami about Aman?

4. How does the theme of deception appear within the relationship between Xiomara and Caridad?

5. Discuss the humanist messages present within the short poem entitled "Wants" (146).

6. Who is ultimately in charge of determining whether Xiomara's behavior is correct or not?

7. What is the cause of the marked change in the relationship between Xiomara and Mami?

8. Provide a brief description of each member of the poetry club and state what goes on there.

9. What is the cause of Xavier's emotional breakdown within the narrative?

10. What event causes Xiomara to break up with Aman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the reasons why Acevedo uses both the first person point-of-view and the structure of a verse novel to tell Xiomara’s story in the The Poet X. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what is Acevedo's intended effect on the reader?

Essay Topic 2

How do the themes of religion and control function within the novel and what is Acevedo's message regarding these themes?

Essay Topic 3

What is the Acevedo’s message concerning the unique struggle undergone by young women caught between two cultures?

(see the answer keys)

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