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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rodriguez finally decide about affirmative action?

2. Why do the new minority students on campus make Rodriguez uneasy?

3. How does Rodriguez say that the white students react to affirmative action?

4. In Complexion, Chapter 2, what does Rodriguez do to try to change his skin color?

5. What example does Rodriguez offer of a program that can help minority students?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Rodriguez's parents' ideas about masculine and feminine characteristics? How does that affect Rodriguez?

2. How does Rodriguez overcome his attitudes about dark skin? Give two specific examples.

3. How does Rodriguez use the label "minority student"? How does he feel about it? Give specific reasons why he feels that way.

4. How does Rodriguez feel about white students' attitudes toward affirmative action?

5. What kind of social life does Rodriguez have? Does he have lots of friends and girlfriends?

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

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

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

9. As a teacher, how does Rodriguez interact with these other minority students? Why does he act that way?

10. How does Rodriguez handle applying for teaching positions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rodriguez is told that men behave in one way and women behave in another way. He is embarrassed because based on those standards, he acts more like a woman than a man.

Part One: How does Rodriguez's family define male and female behavior? Why do you think they have those opinions?

Part Two: Do the characters in the book follow those guidelines for male and female behavior? What happens to characters who do not follow the guidelines? What happens to characters who do follow the guidelines? What is Rodriguez saying about gender roles?

Essay Topic 2

Part One: What does Rodriguez argue about affirmative action? Explain his argument thoroughly and give specific examples that he uses to support his argument.

Part Two: Do you agree with his arguments? Why or why not? Provide your own examples to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Part One: Compare and contrast Rodriguez's childhood view of religion and his adult view of religion.

Part Two: Rodriguez acknowledges that the church itself changed some of its practices as he grew up. What effect did that have on his decision to stay Catholic? Did it encourage him to re-evaluate his religious beliefs and practices?

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This section contains 990 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample