View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Once the family has shifted to speaking English, how does Rodriguez feel when he hears families speaking Spanish?

2. Why does Rodriguez say he is writing this book?

3. How does Rodriguez feel about his family background?

4. What does Rodriguez see as the value of a book?

5. In The Achievement of Desire, Prologue, Rodriguez says that now that he is successful, people always ask him a certain question. What is it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rodriguez discover about language and intimacy? What family member helps him to figure that out?

2. Why is Rodriguez writing this book? Identify two reasons.

3. What does Rodriguez say about his experience of growing up Catholic?

4. What is Rodriguez's initial attitude about reading? What happens to him because of that attitude? What do his parents think about reading?

5. What does Rodriguez describe as the differences between Mexican Catholicism and English Catholicism? Identify two characteristics of each.

6. What conflicting messages does Rodriguez's father give him about getting an education?

7. How do Catholic rituals become a part of Rodriguez's life? Which rituals does he describe?

8. How does Rodriguez feel about bilingual education?

9. Why does Rodriguez talk about how the rich people pronounce his name?

10. How does learning to speak English change Rodriguez's mother? His father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rodriguez claims that it is his education that made him successful. That is the reason he is writing this history of his education.

Part One: Find examples that prove his point. How is the person he is today a result of getting a good education?

Part Two: Find examples that disprove his point. What other advantages does he have (for example, where he lives, people he knows, personal characteristics) that could have led him to be successful even without a great education?

Part Three: Decide for yourself -- did Rodriguez's education make him successful? Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Rodriguez tells his mother that there are some things it is easier to discuss with a stranger than with a family member.

Part One: What specific things do you think Rodriguez would rather discuss with a stranger than with his family members?

Part Two: Do you agree with his statement? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Rodriguez identifies with a student description in a textbook, the "scholarship boy." He feels that is a good representation of how he was as a student.

Part One: Describe the scholarship boy. Identify how that type of student is seen by the teacher, by fellow classmates, and how he sees himself. Identify why Rodriguez related to that description, and use specific examples to support your answer.

Part Two: Write a brief description of the kind of student you are. Identify how that type of student is seen by the teacher, by fellow classmates, and how he/she sees himself/herself. Compare and contrast your description with that of the scholarship boy.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,050 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample