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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 does Juan say are new tribes?

2. Where does Eileen first move when she leaves her homeland?

3. Who alerts Eileen that Sean has arrived?

4. Why does Juan say it is important for the party to remember the route?

5. What is one thing that can be seen from the porch of the ranch house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Juan not think there is a reason to share much about his people and their history?

2. What can be seen from the Mulkerin front porch?

3. Who is Juan?

4. Where is Eileen raised and how does she come to be in California?

5. Who is Zeke Wooston?

6. Describe a couple of the men who are with Wooston when he comes to tell Eileen of Wooston's intentions to evict the Mulkerin family.

7. How does Eileen end up moving to Malibu?

8. How does Eileen's family end up in Spain and then how does Eileen end up in Mexico?

9. What is the situation at the Mulkerin ranch, and what does Eileen think needs to be done about it?

10. Why is the Mulkerin family's hope in Sean Mulkerin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "The Californios" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if "The Californios" is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written as serious literary fiction versus fiction that is solely written for entertainment? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "The Californios" a successful novel? What about those in academe?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "The Californios", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (xposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement.) Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements of "The Californios". (They may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "The Californios" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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