View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. Where does Rodriguez feel comfortable? Why?
(a) At church, because he believes God loves him in spite of his dark skin.
(b) At school, because they value his intelligence, not his complexion.
(c) At home, because they love him no matter what he does.
(d) With his friends, because they understand him.

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

5. What does Rodriguez think of his parents' ideas on religion?
(a) They are based on good Church teachings.
(b) They just do what the priest tells them to do.
(c) They are deep and profound.
(d) They are too simple.

Short Answer Questions

1. When he is a child, what do people say about Rodriguez's complexion?

2. What is Rodriguez aware of when he visits his rich friends?

3. Now that Rodriguez is an adult and done with school, what does his mother ask him to do?

4. Where does Rodriguez go for his fellowship?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Rodriguez's ideas about dark skin change as he grows up? Give specific examples.

2. What conversation does Rodriguez have with a colleague about teaching positions? What decision does Rodriguez make as a result of that conversation?

3. What does Rodriguez's mother tell him about writing about their family? What does his editor tell him?

4. Rodriguez looks at the students of the 1960s and 1970s from a teacher's perspective. What does he see as the difference between them?

5. As a child, what does Rodriguez learn about dark skin?

6. As more minority students attend college, what does Rodriguez notice about their relationship to their culture? Give specific examples.

7. What does Rodriguez think about the Civil Rights Movement?

8. What does Rodriguez decide to do about a job?

9. How do Rodriguez's ideas about religion change as he grows up? How does his practice of religion change?

10. How does Rodriguez explain psychiatry to his mother? Does she understand? Why or why not? How does that discussion connect to his book and what he is willing to tell her about the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,037 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample