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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. Who refuses Luis Cervantes' offer of help?

2. Why does Pancracio shoot the sacristan of the church in the village?

3. What does Demetrio Macias ask Luis Cervantes about the trip to Aguascalientes?

4. What does the poor villager complain that Demetrio Macias' men have done to him?

5. What is Valderrama's response to learning of the great defeat?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Demetrio Macias describe his relationships with women?

2. How does Luis Cervantes justify stealing money from the people?

3. What dream of Venancio's is quashed by Luis Cervantes?

4. What persuades Demetrio Macias' men that the deserters they encounter are telling the truth about Villa's defeat?

5. Why does the poet Valderrama disappear from Demetrio Macias' group?

6. Why doesn't War Paint's plan to rescue Camila from Demetrio Macias succeed?

7. What point of honor did Luis Cervantes lose when chastising Demetrio Macias for looting private homes?

8. What attitude does War Paint take toward Camila when Luis Cervantes brings her to camp for Demetrio Macias?

9. How are the men of the rebel band promoted in military standing?

10. What does Luis Cervantes suggest that they do with their stolen money?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story, much is made of Luis Cervantes' ability to read, write, and deliver speeches. What differences does his education make to him? To those around him? How does it affect the outcome of his life?

Essay Topic 2

Margarito's self-hatred explodes when he shoots his own image in the mirror, and then later when he actually commits suicide. Are there other instances of foreshadowing in this story, when the conclusion of events is presaged by a symbolic or similar event? In your essay, show examples of foreshadowing in the plot of this story.

Essay Topic 3

The tone of a story is the author's attitude toward his characters and the situations about which he writes. Discuss the tone of this story. How do you think Azuela felt about the people he wrote about?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 950 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample