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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. Why does Felicia rent out her trailer?

2. What happens between Helena and Maria after their adventure?

3. Which war did Francisco fight in?

4. Why isn't Caridad taken immediately back to her family?

5. Where do Helena and Maria finally end up during their driving adventure?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What sign does Francisco see outside Caridad's door?

3. Why is Fe's death an example of tragic irony?

4. What do the stations of the cross in Chapter 15 symbolize?

5. Why does Sofi feel as if she is a prisoner in her own house?

6. Explain the circumstances surrounding Esperanza's death.

7. Describe the cooperative that Sofi and her neighbor develop.

8. What events lead up to Caridad's horse's death?

9. Castillo includes the quote at the end of Chapter 5: "Poor Mexico! So Far From God, and so close to the United States." What do you think this quote means?

10. How does Don Domingo exploit Caridad's gift of prophecy in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How was the sexual assault on Caridad foreshadowed in the earlier part of the book? Did you expect her to be attacked? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Magical realism is an important aspect of Castillo's work. How is this technique used to tell the story of Sofi and her daughters? What does magical realism contribute to the effect of Castillo's work on readers? How does she incorporate it into the greater work?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the climax of this story and the series of events leading up to the climax. How did characters respond to the climax? What did Castillo include in her story to insure that the climax would be as powerful and meaningful as possible?

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