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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 did Esperanza’s family buy from Gil’s Furniture?

2. What does Darius point out?

3. What happened to the winner?

4. Why does Marin live with Louie’s family?

5. What has made Esperanza’s mother sick, or so she thinks?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Esperanza?

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

3. Who encourages her to get a job?

4. Why doesn’t Esperanza want to dance?

5. What is Marin, Esperanza’s neighbor, waiting for?

6. What does Esperanza feel like her name means?

7. Why does Esperanza describe this day as a “good” day?

8. Why does Esperanza think others think the people in her neighborhood are dangerous?

9. What is Alicia afraid of?

10. What do the girls believe hips are good for?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Lucy and Rachel’s family situation with Nenny’s and Esperanza’s. Do they seem satisfied with where they are living and the neighborhood on Mango Street?

Essay Topic 2

Sally, Esperanza’s friend, comes from a very strict religious family, but Sally rebels by dressing provocatively. What happens to Sally? How does Esperanza see this as a warning?

Essay Topic 3

Esperanza is very much a product of her environment, as many characters are in this book. How have environmental factors affected the characters? How does Esperanza want to change this?

(see the answer keys)

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