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 sort of tree is in front of Cora's house?

2. Why does Mrs. Allenberg not allow Cora to see anyone?

3. What are Magda and Emilia known for in their neighborhood?

4. Whom does the woman in Chapter 6 go to visit?

5. Why is Cora able to invite Magda and Emilia over to her house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the history between Mamasita and Magda's grandfather?

2. How are Magda and Emilia finally able to visit Cora's house?

3. What does the taxi driver say that helps Magda after Jaime's death, and why does it affect her?

4. What is Emilia's reaction to hearing her mother speak of the revolution, and why?

5. What is Magda's assignment with the Tupas after the work she did on the British ambassador?

6. What is piropos?

7. Who is Basco?

8. What is significant about Senora Francisca having a bare house?

9. Why is Cora able to go to the zoo with Magda and Emilia?

10. What happens to Magda after she escapes the riot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In this essay, discuss the fates of Magda and her friends by the end of the novel. What has been the meaning of all the fighting? Does it appear that Magda and Marco have finally won what they are fighting for? The characters to be discussed are:

Magda.

Marco.

Emilia.

Cora.

Ramiro.

Jaime.

Gabriela.

What is the author trying to say by having so many people come to a bad end?

Essay Topic 2

Halfway through the novel, Magda is sexually assaulted by a police officer after a riot breaks out at Che's speech. Why does the author choose to take this route with Magda? How does it change the character? What does the attack on Magda mean in the overall context of the government's abuse of the Uruguayans?

Essay Topic 3

Mr. and Mrs. Allenberg fear that their daughter will face persecution for her religion as they did in Europe during World War II. Discuss the author's method of introducing the most infamous genocide in history to the story that takes place in Uruguay. Be sure to discuss the following points:

1) The similarities between the Uruguayan government and the regime that persecuted the Jewish people.

2) What the aim of each government is in their actions.

3) The willingness or unwillingness of other citizens to let the persecution continue.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,042 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample