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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At what stage in their academic career does Rodriguez believe students need help?
(a) When they start high school.
(b) When they start college.
(c) When they start school.
(d) During the last two years of high school.

2. How do Rodriguez's parents see themselves in American society?
(a) They are totally separate from American society.
(b) They want to be more a part of American society than they are.
(c) They can participate in it, but they keep themselves separate.
(d) They are a part of American society.

3. What does Rodriguez think about how the meaning of a person's complexion has changed?
(a) His dark skin used to be popular, but now is unpopular.
(b) People used to ignore his complexion, but now they make a big deal about it.
(c) Nobody pays any attention to complexion any more.
(d) His dark skin used to be unpopular, but now is popular.

4. What changes Rodriguez's ideas about his complexion?
(a) He talks about it with one of his professors.
(b) He talks about it with other minority students.
(c) He works construction and gets comfortable about revealing his skin.
(d) He writes a news story about the "Black is Beautiful" movement.

5. What does Rodriguez think about his ability to succeed with women?
(a) He will succeed because he has such a beautiful "tan."
(b) He can only flirt with dark-skinned women.
(c) He will fail because his skin color makes him ugly.
(d) He will attract a lot of women because he is "exotic."

6. What example does Rodriguez offer of a program that can help minority students?
(a) His own experience: a strong educational background.
(b) Students he knew in graduate school who went for extra tutoring.
(c) Students who went to college for five years instead of four.
(d) Students who took a remedial reading course.

7. Who teaches Rodriguez that stereotypes are not accurate?
(a) The well-educated construction workers.
(b) The other students.
(c) His boss at his job.
(d) His professors at Stanford.

8. What do the Hispanic college students ask Rodriguez to do?
(a) To teach a course in minority literature.
(b) To give a speech to their student group.
(c) To write them recommendations for graduate school.
(d) To lead a protest.

9. What happens at the swimming pool to make Rodriguez aware of his skin color?
(a) His mother tells him to cover up.
(b) A group of boys makes fun of him.
(c) A pretty girl laughs at him.
(d) He realizes everyone else in the pool is light-skinned.

10. In the last chapters of the book, what is Rodriguez keeping secret from his family?
(a) That he dropped out of school.
(b) That he wants to be a construction worker.
(c) That he no longer goes to church.
(d) That he's writing a book.

11. According to Rodriguez's family, how are men supposed to be?
(a) Intelligent, kind, and good at providing for a family.
(b) Ruggedly handsome, strong in character, and responsible.
(c) Tough, aggressive, and bossy.
(d) Gentle, polite, and soft-spoken.

12. As an adult, what do people think his complexion says about him?
(a) That he is rich and lives a life of luxury.
(b) That he spends a lot of time indoors.
(c) That he is poor and works in the sun all day.
(d) That he is unhealthy.

13. Because of his skin color, what did Rodriguez's parents worry about?
(a) That he would get involved with a gang.
(b) That he would have a harder time in school.
(c) That he would take a hard labor job.
(d) That people would discriminate against him.

14. According to Rodriguez, who does affirmative action help?
(a) Minority students who already have some advantages.
(b) White students who want an excuse for not getting into school.
(c) All minority students.
(d) White college professors who feel guilty about the Civil Rights Movement.

15. In Complexion, Chapter 3, what does Rodriguez realize about education?
(a) It gives people a voice.
(b) It is a waste of time.
(c) It provides better job options.
(d) It changes how people look at the world.

Short Answer Questions

1. When does Rodriguez think that minority students should get help?

2. What do the students say about Rodriguez?

3. Where does Rodriguez feel comfortable? Why?

4. How does Rodriguez think about the old religious traditions of his childhood?

5. What does Rodriguez tell his mother about talking to strangers?

(see the answer keys)

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