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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. What has Esperanza’s mother forgotten to buy?

2. How many steps are in the front of Meme’s house?

3. A house. What does Esperanza see that reminds her of Mexico?

4. What does Esperanza’s name mean in English?

5. With whom is Louie friends with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Esperanza write: “here there is too much sadness and not enough sky” (p.33)?

2. What does Esperanza’s mean in the English translation?

3. Why doesn’t Esperanza want to dance?

4. Why are they “tired of being beautiful”?

5. Why is Esperanza embarrassed by Nenny wanting to buy the music box?

6. Why does Esperanza believe Mrs. Vargas is so overwhelmed?

7. What is Esperanza afraid of at the end of this vignette?

8. How does Esperanza try and convince her mother to allow her to eat in the canteen?

9. How does Esperanza feel when the nun is inquiring where she lives?

10. What happens to Angel Vargas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Esperanza is named after her great-grandmother. What happens to Esperanza’s great-grandmother? Why doesn’t Esperanza want to be named after her?

Essay Topic 2

Esperanza’s mother had many dreams of her own. What prevented her from following those dreams? What does she want for Esperanza?

Essay Topic 3

Toward the end of the book, Esperanza says this: "I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate" (Chapter 35, pg. 89). How is this quote indicative of who Esperanza is currently, and who she will become?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 590 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample