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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Day of the Dead.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What duality does the pachuco represent?
(a) A clown whose purpose is terror.
(b) A saint deeply involved in scandal.
(c) A victim obsessed with revenge.
(d) A fiend whose trademark is hearty laughter.

2. Paz discusses the result of persecution on the pachuco. What is that result?
(a) It strengthens his anger.
(b) It makes him stronger.
(c) It makes him distrustful.
(d) It breaks his solitude.

3. As explained in Chapter One, who are the pachucos?
(a) Rebellious youths who are not assimilated into North American culture.
(b) Old men who no longer have a connection to their native land.
(c) Young men who leave Mexico for the United States hoping for a better life.
(d) Old men who keep the memory of Mexico alive in their grandchildren who were born in the United States.

4. According to Paz, what is the Mexican's relationship with his fellow man?
(a) He ignores him.
(b) He changes him to Nobody.
(c) He respects him only if they are the same social class.
(d) He respects him only if he is revered.

5. How does the philosophy of progress treat death?
(a) It minimizes death.
(b) It treats death as one more step in life.
(c) It disregards death entirely.
(d) It pretends to make death disappear.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does solitude assume a purifying, almost purgative, quality for the Mexican?

2. What is Paz's opinion about Western respect for life?

3. During the fiesta of Grito, why do the people shout for one hour, in Paz's interpretation?

4. In Paz's estimation, what vital word has the Mexican forgotten?

5. According to Paz, what does it mean when a person is alone?

(see the answer key)

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