View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following contributed to making colonialism alive and relevant?
(a) Native acceptance.
(b) Imperial takeover.
(c) Catholicism.
(d) Violence.

2. According to Trotsky, what should happen if the Revolution does not break out in advanced nations following World War II?
(a) The Marxist view of economics should be revised.
(b) Socialism should be abandoned altogether.
(c) Socialism should be forced on those nations.
(d) The Marxist view of history should be revised.

3. How does the Indian perceive salvation? (Chapter Five).
(a) As something solely individual.
(b) As something attainable only by a few people.
(c) As something open to anyone who would believe.
(d) As part of society and the cosmos, as well as individual.

4. What is the value of Sor Juana's poem, "First Dream"?
(a) A comprehensive history of the Indians before Cortez.
(b) A philosophical look at Catholicism.
(c) A penetrating analysis of the effects of European influence.
(d) A philosophical look at the depth of reality.

5. What was the main philosophical objective of the Revolution?
(a) To produce several influential Mexican thinkers.
(b) To conquer the past and take it into the present.
(c) To overthrow the conservative ideals.
(d) To replace Catholicism with rationalism.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did the Spanish Conquest treat religion?

2. According to Paz, who is most fascinated by death?

3. Why did the Spaniards not exterminate the Indians after they were conquered?

4. Why have Mexican culture and politics vacillated from one extreme to another? (Chapter Seven, page 157).

5. What has happened to the former plurality of ideas and customs? (Chapter Seven).

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the new Constitution mandate that education be secular? How might that have made the Mexicans feel?

2. What role did religion play in ancient South American cultures? Did Catholicism change that role?

3. Why was the Aztec nation able to unify so many diverse tribes? How were they quite skilled with that type of action?

4. What is Paz's definition of "community"? How is that definition knowingly idealistic?

5. What is the role of the Mexican intelligentsia within society? How does it differ from the function of the intelligentsia within the United States and Europe; and which one is a better role?

6. How did Catholicism reduce the Indian converts into passive believers? How was that a significant blow?

7. Who was Sor Juana? Why was she an unusual person both in South America and in old Spain?

8. When did Independence begin in Mexico? How was it similar to or different from the Conquest?

9. What did Article 3 of the new Constitution mandate? What troubles did that Article cause?

10. What does Paz think of the Soviet Union? How does it compare to Mexico?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,811 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample