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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Now that he is a teacher, what does Rodriguez blame white students for?
(a) They are arrogant and selfish about their grades.
(b) They are rude to the minority students.
(c) They think they are smarter than the professors.
(d) They do not make an effort to help poor white students get an education.

3. Does Rodriguez believe that his mother knows about his book?
(a) Yes, but she will not admit it.
(b) No.
(c) No, but he is afraid she will find his manuscript and read it.
(d) Yes.

4. Why does Rodriguez's mother call him "Mr. Secrets"?
(a) Because he does not talk to his family.
(b) Because he likes to surprise them.
(c) Because he hides things from his family.
(d) Because he lies to his family.

5. Is Rodriguez's classmate as good a student as Rodriguez is?
(a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Yes, but the schools do not want to hire him because he has controversial political views.
(d) Yes, but he has a bad work history.

6. How does Rodriguez think about the old religious traditions of his childhood?
(a) He thinks those traditions are only suitable for people like his parents.
(b) He is glad the traditions have changed.
(c) He thinks they are old-fashioned and silly.
(d) He misses the ritual.

7. How does Rodriguez describe the 1970s student?
(a) Too politically conservative.
(b) A troublemaker.
(c) Too focused on grades to care about other people.
(d) Cynical and sour about life.

8. What is one thing that Rodriguez says happened to black students promoted through affirmative action?
(a) They succeeded beyond anyone's expectations.
(b) They were a great example for future generations of black students.
(c) Some of them failed because they did not have a strong educational background.
(d) They did not do any better than students who "earned" their way in.

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

10. What does Rodriguez tell his mother about talking to strangers?
(a) Talking to strangers is always difficult.
(b) She needs to learn how to talk to strangers more easily.
(c) There are some things so intimate it is easier to say them to strangers.
(d) Talking to strangers is more difficult in Spanish than English.

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

12. How does Rodriguez's mother act differently in public?
(a) Her voice gets lower and quieter.
(b) She struggles to speak English.
(c) She is more outgoing and friendly.
(d) Her voice gets higher and she speaks more formally.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rodriguez have to face in order to write the book?

2. What does Rodriguez's professor ask him about applying for teaching jobs?

3. What does Rodriguez think skin color says about financial status?

4. What does Rodriguez learn about complexion from his family?

5. Because of his skin color, what did Rodriguez's parents worry about?

(see the answer keys)

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