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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 Gustavo Milhojas first live after immigrating to Mexico?

2. Who is the priest that leads Mass at the church where Mayor's family attends?

3. What tattoo does Garrett have on his neck?

4. Who did Mayor's aunt Gloria marry?

5. What was Celia studying to be at university when she met Rafael?

Short Essay Questions

1. How and why does Celia's relationship with Quisqueya change?

2. How does Alma compare her life in Mexico to her life in the U.S.?

3. Who is Benny Quinto? Where is he from? What brought him to America?

4. What does Garrett do to Maribel to lead Mayor to stand up for her by the bus stop?

5. Where is the novel principally set? How is the setting described?

6. Where is Arturo's job when the family arrives in the U.S.? What does he do?

7. How is the theme of migration explored in the novel?

8. What encounter does Alma witness between Maribel and Garrett? How does she respond?

9. What family history of Garrett's is related through Mayor's narrative?

10. What various attempts have Mayor's family made to visit Panama? What prevented them from doing so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Where does Arturo work? What is his job like? How does his job in the U.S. differ from his work in Mexico? Why does Arturo lose his job?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss gender roles and expectations in The Book of Unknown Americans. How are the women in the story treated differently than the men? What is expected of them? What harassment or abuses do the women of the novel experience?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Arturo's death in The Book of Unknown Americans. How does he die? What events led up to his death? What impacts does his death have on Alma, Maribel, Mayor, Rafael, and Celia?

(see the answer keys)

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