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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 is not mentioned as something near the coast of the beach?

2. How many children does Juana have?

3. After Kino dives in the water in Chapter 2, what song plays in his head?

4. What has brought the King of Spain to higher power?

5. What does the family eat every morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kino react when he sees the scorpion is about to bite Coyotito?

2. How would you describe the beliefs of the people of the Gulf?

3. When does the Song of Evil first enter Kino's head? What does this song represent?

4. How long can Kino stay underwater without any problems? How does this serve him?

5. Why does Kino respect his canoe so much?

6. When does the first hint of the Song of Evil come to Kino with his pearl? What does the song represent?

7. How does Juana merge different belief systems in the novel?

8. What does Juana ask for when Coyotito is stung? Why?

9. What does the Song of the Family symbolize to Kino?

10. What does the town call the pearl when they hear about it? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The canoe holds high importance in the life of the villagers. How does Kino feel about his canoe? How does he react when it is no longer available for him? Why do the villagers hold such a high importance on their canoes? What do the canoes symbolize to them?

Essay Topic 2

Social status is a common theme in the novel. What are the ways that Kino is warned that striving to break out of his destined social status in life would be disastrous? What impact do the priest's stories and the story of the pearl buyer for the villagers have on Kino?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the plot structure of The Pearl. What is the inciting action that drives the plot forward? Where does the climax occur? What information is related in the falling action and denouement of the plot?

(see the answer keys)

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