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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. What do the prisoners have to do after they brush their teeth?

2. What do the prisoners do to keep up their spirits?

3. Alicia compares receiving a piece of bread to receiving what?

4. With whom is Maria Elena in love?

5. On the afternoon of April 13, what does Alicia see in the hallway on her way to the bathroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Alicia say is the only thing certain in their lives other than bread?

2. While interrogating Alicia's husband, what do the guards think about the stream poem?

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

4. How can Alicia guess Vasca's mood each day?

5. How do the prisoners communicate with the bread?

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

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

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

9. What was the Gendarme Nacional?

10. What character trait helps Alicia get through many of her trials at the Little School?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

By which groups of people does the Argentine military feel threatened? According to Alicia's writings, why are they are threat? How does Peronism play into the events of the novel? Initially, why does Alicia choose be become politically active? What is her mission now, after making it out of the Little School alive?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Alicia using information from the work. Be sure to include:

1) What are her values?

2) What does she believe in?

3) How does she stay true to herself?

4) What are her goals?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 568 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample