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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. Who is Mayor's gym teacher?

2. How old was Alma when she married Arturo?

3. What President is in office when Rafael is fired from the diner?

4. What do Arturo, Alma, and Maribel order at the pizza place on Arturo and Alma's anniversary?

5. How many days a week did Rafael work at the diner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What leads to the fight between Mayor and Garrett? How does the fight end?

2. Why does Rafael lose his job? What problems does this present?

3. What are the repercussions of Quisqueya's news of Mayor and Maribel?

4. What do the Riveras do to celebrate their anniversary? What mood is created in this scene?

5. Who is Micho Alvarez? What is his story?

6. What is the significance of the song "Feliz Navidad" in the novel?

7. Why does Alma keep the information about Garrett secret from Arturo?

8. What happens when Alma goes to the police about Garrett Miller?

9. Why is Arturo fired from his job at the mushroom farm?

10. Why does Arturo have such a difficult time finding a new job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why are Mayor and Maribel forbidden from seeing one another? Do you think that this punishment was justified? Why or why not? What are the repercussions of this action?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of the American Dream in The Book of Unknown Americans. What characters are motivated by the American Dream? How do these characters seek out the American Dream? Do they succeed?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the setting of the Redwood Apartments. In what city are they located? How many tenants are there? What role does this setting play in the plot of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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