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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. Where did Sofi and Domingo meet?

2. What animal moves into the trailer as well?

3. Whose veins "run with the blood of the land"?

4. How did Felicia's mother die?

5. When was the last time Felicia fired her gun?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the relationship between Maria and Helena.

2. How does the incident of the man in the pickup truck foreshadow events later in the novel?

3. Describe the differences between Felicia and Doctor Tolentino as well as their relationship.

4. What does Domingo do in Chapter 6 that leads to Sofi falling in love with him again?

5. Elaborate on the scene in which Caridad falls in love for the first time since Memo.

6. What role does the Lady in Blue play in La Loca's final days?

7. Describe Caridad's encounter with the woman on the wall when she reaches Ojo Caliente.

8. Explain the circumstances surrounding Esperanza's death.

9. Why do Fe and Casimiro decide to have a small wedding?

10. What motivates Sofi to run for mayor of Tome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Castillo's story presents sisters that appear to be very different from one another. Compare and contrast Sofi's four daughters to one another. How are their worldviews different? How are they the same? Be sure to use specific examples from your reading.

Essay Topic 2

If you could choose one of Castillo's characters to be identified as the tragic hero/ine, who would it be and why? Do you think this particular character is more of a tragic hero than other characters? What is it about the character that helps him or her to be defined this way?

Essay Topic 3

Characters' names are symbolic in this story. Choose two characters and describe what their names symbolize. Why would Castillo choose these particular names for the characters?

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