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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. As a child, what were the subjects of Alicia's poems?

2. What did she do with the leaks from the roof?

3. How does the denim jacket make Alicia feel?

4. With whom was Graciela arrested?

5. What does eating the bread remind the prisoner of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the name "Patichoti" mean?

2. Why was Alicia suspicious of a newspaper report that surfaced claiming two couples were killed in a confrontation with the military in their area?

3. How does she feel when she is able to wash her hands with the leak?

4. When a batch of new prisoners arrive, what is Alicia requested to do?

5. What are the two fierce shadows of Alicia's poem?

6. Why were high school students taken prisoner at the Little School?

7. Rosa has seen one of the guards' faces---what is he worried about?

8. What does water do for Alicia in Beauty Treatment?

9. Why are Alicia and her husband placed side by side?

10. How does the bread help to give the prisoners strength?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the Little School, the prisoners were physically detained and bound, but the guards were more worried about their mental freedom. Why would that appear more dangerous than the prisoners' physical freedom? How does Alicia feel about being spiritually and mentally free? Discuss the different physical and mental restraints at the Little School. How does Alicia attempt to overcome such restraints?

Essay Topic 2

Water is used throughout the text. What does water typically symbolize? What does it symbolize for Alicia? How does water play into everyday life at the Little School? Why isn't Alicia bothered by the Chinese water torture? Choose at least three instances in the work involving water. Compare and contract the role of water throughout the work.

Essay Topic 3

Alicia mentions that the government began to release people after getting pressure internationally. Do you think without such pressure the atrocities would have continued? Why or why not? As members of the world community, how responsible are we to aid in such situations? Can you think of any other humanitarian situation recently where the international community became involved? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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