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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 paisanos often use for bartering?

2. Cornelia Ruiz loves only love and ______________.

3. Who reports that Torrelli wants to kill Pilon?

4. What does the woman in #104 do to Joe when he falls asleep?

5. Where does Joe find shelter on a rainy day?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the paisanos help Teresina when the bean crop fails and she cannot feed her eight children?

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

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

4. What is the story of the boy and the baby, Manuel?

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

6. Who is Dolores Engracia (Sweets) Ramirez and what is her interest in Danny?

7. Who does Jesus Maria encounter in the company of a policeman and what does Jesus Maria do in the situation?

8. Describe the sad life of Tall Bob Smoke.

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

10. How do Danny and Sweets eventually connect?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The paisanos are a band of homeless men who live together in Danny's house. Why do Danny and the boys become like a family after awhile? How do they exhibit behaviors inherent in families? What lessons is Steinbeck trying to teach about the various ways that families can be created, outside of the obvious biological combinations?

Essay Topic 2

Steinbeck clearly likes to have fun with his readers. Name some examples of humor in this book. Which characters are especially prone to humorous behavior? Which are not? Why does Steinbeck use humor? Is he trying to balance somber stories or does he just find life to be funny most of the time, at least in this story?

Essay Topic 3

Overall, the residents of Tortilla Flat become one big family. Describe the elements necessary to comprise a family. Explain some of the ways that the Tortilla Flat family is dysfunctional. Explain some of the ways that the Tortilla Flat family is quite normal.

(see the answer keys)

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