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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Above all other definitions, who is the Chingada?
(a) A mythical mother.
(b) The representation of virginity.
(c) A living mother.
(d) The representation of violated womanhood.

2. Why does the modern novelist rarely choose the worker as his protagonist?
(a) The worker cannot adequately capture what the novelist wants to convey.
(b) The worker is not modern enough.
(c) The worker is not a universal figure.
(d) The worker is too recent and similar to his boss.

3. 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.

4. What analogy does Paz use to explain Mexico's history?
(a) A child without a family.
(b) A man searching for his parents.
(c) A child without a future.
(d) A man searching for his wife.

5. How does Paz differentiate between views of the body in Mexico and North America?
(a) Mexicans are afraid of their bodies, while North Americans are modest.
(b) Mexicans are modest, while North Americans are afraid of their bodies.
(c) Mexicans live with abandon while North Americans are prudent.
(d) Mexicans are ashamed of their bodies, while North Americans live with physical exuberance.

6. What is the novelty of the pachuco clothing?
(a) Its impracticality.
(b) Its exaggeration.
(c) Its disregard for current fashion.
(d) Its colors.

7. Which of the following powers does the saying "I am your father" hold? (Chapter Four, page 80).
(a) The subtle power of the seemingly weaker person.
(b) The power of the justified and privileged person.
(c) The power of the Creator.
(d) The power of the closed person, the aggressor.

8. From what does a fiesta free the Mexican, in Paz's understanding?
(a) The explosive desires he carries in his heart.
(b) The drudgery of common living.
(c) The horror of human thought.
(d) The sense of unfulfilled desires.

9. According to Paz's argument, what is the source of the North American's irritation with the pachuco?
(a) He sees the pachuco as a threat to North American society.
(b) He sees the pachuco as an invader.
(c) He does not know how to relate to the pachuco.
(d) He sees the pachuco as a mythical figure, and thus dangerous.

10. How are the worlds of terrorism and mass production similar to each other? (Chapter Four).
(a) However subtle, they use persecution.
(b) They are worlds of things.
(c) They focus on the individuality of man.
(d) Their primary catalyst is guilt.

11. What type of book did Xavier Villaurrutia write?
(a) Life-related poetry.
(b) Death-related poetry.
(c) A scientific explanation of death.
(d) Religious exhortations about life.

12. What mentality does Paz attribute to the Mexican?
(a) Leader.
(b) Master.
(c) Servant.
(d) Victim.

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

14. How are the evil words a sign and seal?
(a) They identify fellow Mexicans among strangers.
(b) They seal the intention of the speaker.
(c) They pull men out of their solitude.
(d) They project the result that they will bring.

15. As explained in Chapter One, who are the pachucos?
(a) Old men who keep the memory of Mexico alive in their grandchildren who were born in the United States.
(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) Rebellious youths who are not assimilated into North American culture.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the sense of Mexicanism "float" in the air of Los Angeles?

2. What familial relationship does Paz equate with solitude?

3. What is the advantage of the North American view of women in relation to the Spanish view?

4. What model do Mexicans prefer that the woman follow?

5. What masculine trait enters into the idea of feminine modesty?

(see the answer keys)

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