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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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.

2. In contrast to the North American, what is one of the most noticeable traits about the Mexican character?
(a) His acceptance of horror.
(b) His obsession with love.
(c) His disinterest in emotional attachments.
(d) His aversion to horror.

3. As the closure to Chapter Two, the reader sees what shadow spreading out over Mexico?
(a) The shadow of truth.
(b) The shadow of Nobody.
(c) The shadow of Catholicism.
(d) The shadow of dissimulation.

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

5. What is the French sociologists' interpretation of the fiesta?
(a) The people's disregard for obligations enhances their sense of time.
(b) The people's squandering of money appeases the gods.
(c) The people's disregard for death increases their sense of life.
(d) The people's misunderstanding of life increases their desire for death.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Paz's opinion, when is a person most likely to see himself as precious and unique?

2. What is the difference between the Mexican killer and the modern one?

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

4. Where does Paz state that the Mexican's indifference hides his life force?

5. Why are woman considered inferior people?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens during the fiesta? What is the emotional result?

2. What is the greatest horror that a worker suffers? Do you think that is true?

3. What is the modern view of death? How is it dramatically different from the Aztec view?

4. What is the origin of the pachuco? How does that characterization prepare the reader for the rest of the book?

5. Why does the Mexican love Form? Other than in personal relationships, how does that idea express itself?

6. How does Paz explain the Mexican woman's role in society? How does that strip her of her personality?

7. Who represents the conflict that Mexicans have not been able to solve? What effect does that conflict have on their culture?

8. In Chapter Three, the following idea is presented: "There is nothing so joyous as a Mexican fiesta, but there is also nothing so sorrowful. Fiesta night is also a night of mourning" (Chapter 3, page 53). What does that mean?

9. What is the Mexican view of death? When does death become saddest?

10. How does North American culture view the pachuco? Does the pachuco accept or reject that culture's perception of him?

(see the answer keys)

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