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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. What example does Rodriguez offer of how affirmative action can have negative consequences?
(a) His own experience as a minority who struggled in college.
(b) Students he knew in graduate school who had never written a paper.
(c) Students who flunked out of college.
(d) Students who were helped by affirmative action, but then did not help their fellow minorities.

4. What does Rodriguez learn about complexion from his family?
(a) Be proud of your complexion, no matter what.
(b) Complexion does not matter.
(c) Dark skin is ugly.
(d) Light skin is ugly.

5. What does Rodriguez hope writing the book will do?
(a) Please his parents.
(b) Allow him to move forward and face his future.
(c) Explain his history.
(d) Share his ideas on education.

6. How does Rodriguez change his religious practices?
(a) He stops going to mass at all.
(b) He starts praying more regularly.
(c) He stops going to confession and listens to his conscience instead of the priest.
(d) He goes to mass every day.

7. What does Rodriguez's editor say about his idea for a book?
(a) He will upset a lot of people.
(b) It is not an interesting idea.
(c) It could be a best-seller.
(d) Writing it will be a lonely experience.

8. Where did Rodriguez teach in the 1960s and 1970s?
(a) UCLA.
(b) Harvard.
(c) UC Berkeley.
(d) Stanford.

9. How does Rodriguez feel about writing a book on his family?
(a) It is very hard for him.
(b) He is worried about what his family will say.
(c) He is excited about it.
(d) It is very easy for him.

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

11. What term does Rodriguez's mother ask him to explain?
(a) Bilingual education.
(b) LSD.
(c) Psychiatry.
(d) Affirmative action.

12. What new academic field do these minority college students ask for?
(a) Third world studies.
(b) Ethnic studies.
(c) Anthropology.
(d) Ethnography.

13. Now that Rodriguez is an adult and done with school, what does his mother ask him to do?
(a) To stop talking about how his education pushed him away from the family.
(b) To leave school and help his father earn some money.
(c) To find a nice girl and get married.
(d) To write down their family's history.

14. When does Rodriguez think that minority students should get help?
(a) When they look for a first job.
(b) When they start college.
(c) When they are in high school.
(d) At the earliest possible age.

15. While he studies at Stanford, what does Rodriguez do to make money?
(a) Writes for a local newspaper.
(b) Works in the school cafeteria.
(c) Tutors other students.
(d) Works a construction job.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Rodriguez's mother not understand his explanation about psychiatry?

2. While he writes his book, how does Rodriguez support himself?

3. Who teaches Rodriguez that stereotypes are not accurate?

4. According to Rodriguez's family, how are men supposed to be?

5. Based on her behavior, who does Rodriguez's mother consider part of the "gringos"?

(see the answer keys)

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