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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. When does Earl work?

2. Who arrives in a yellow taxicab?

3. What does Esperanza promise to never forget?

4. Before Aunt Lupe’s illness, she used to enjoy what activity?

5. What does Esperanza want?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Esperanza begun her “own quiet war”?

2. Why did Marin stay with him in the emergency room?

3. What is Esperanza hoping to hear when she has her fortune told?

4. How are Esperanza and Minerva similar?

5. How does the phrase “no speak English” take on two meanings at the end of this vignette?

6. Why does Esperanza say she’ll allow “bums in the attic”?

7. Who is Ruthie?

8. Who is Geraldo?

9. Why can’t Esperanza, her mother, and other neighbors and kids agree on what Earl’s “wife” looks like?

10. Why isn’t Rafaela allowed to leave her apartment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the characters in the book and examine his/her real life. How does the author represent him/her in the novel? Is this an accurate representation of the character?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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