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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. Before Felipe was arrested, how often did Connie take the three Marias to the Wal-Mart across the lake?

2. What was the temperature when Gramps would have to wipe off the cows' teats to prevent the milk from freezing where it dripped?

3. How much money does Mr. Cruz need to pay the men who are holding his wife hostage?

4. Who did Grandma invite to cut down the last of the evergreens for Christmas?

5. When is Three Kings Day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What punctuation mark does Mr. Bicknell introduce to his students?

2. Who was the most relieved to hear Tio Felipe made it back to Las Margaritas?

3. What does Mari write about her mother's condition in a letter dated April 22, 2006?

4. What does Grandma tell Tyler when he asks why Mr. Cruz wants to go to Texas?

5. What does Tyler do when his aunt Roxie and Uncle Tony offer to take him to Washington, D.C. on spring break?

6. When is the girl the Cruzes are calling Felipe's girlfriend going to Mexico, and what will she take with her?

7. Where does Tyler find money, and what does he do about it?

8. Who is Felipe's lawyer, and what is he like?

9. What is happening to Gramps' Christmas tree farm?

10. When the coyotes agree to half the money to ransom Mrs. Cruz, how do the Cruzes plan to get the money?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ben is pulled over for speeding. Why are the consequences of that incident more severe for Tio Felipe than for Ben?

Essay Topic 2

Grief is a feeling of loss, usually because of the death of a loved one. How do Tyler and his grandmother deal with the loss of Gramps? How do Tyler’s parents deal with their grief? How do each of them handle their grief differently? What is revealed about coping with grief and how it is an individual process?

Essay Topic 3

The Virgen de Guadalupe is the Mexican name for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Why does Mari write to her?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 752 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample