View a FREE sample

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 paisanos steal from Sweets?

2. What does Danny find and sell to a rival supply company?

3. What is Tall Bob Smoke's profession?

4. Why does the Pirate sometimes lend Bob his dogs?

5. Why does Torrelli want to kill Pilon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the sleeping arrangements at Danny's house with all the paisanos at home?

2. Who is Tia Ignacia and with which one of the paisanos does she have a romantic interlude?

3. Describe the sad life of Tall Bob Smoke.

4. What is unusual about the diet of Teresina's children and the manner in which they eat?

5. What happens when the paisanos sell the vacuum cleaner to Torrelli?

6. Describe the Pirate's visit to Sunday mass.

7. What do the paisanos do to Joe after he steals the Pirate's bag of quarters?

8. What does Pirate do with his dogs after he is moved by the stories of St. Francis in church?

9. How does Big Joe's inability to stay awake get him into trouble with Tia and the law?

10. How can Jesus Maria be best characterized?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although the residents of Tortilla Flat live on the fringe of acceptable society, they take care of each other. What is the bond between the residents of Tortilla Flat that makes them want to help each other even when others won't? Is there a common denominator among the Tortilla Flat residents that they recognize themselves in each other? Explain some situations in the book where the Tortilla Flat residents exhibit humanity toward one another.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the Pirate. What is his role in the story? What was the author trying to accomplish by creating the Pirate's character in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Nature takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,099 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample