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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. Why does Peralta's mother initially travel to the USA?

2. What term of affection does Maria routinely use towards Peralta?

3. What classic story does Peralta read his first summer at Prep?

4. What food did Peralta love during his first winter in America?

5. What day does Peralta's father leave the United States for good?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jeff suggest Peralta does that changes his life in Part II?

2. When does Peralta first realize he and his mother do not have papeles (papers)?

3. What does Peralta do on his flight to New York City as a small child that endears him to people?

4. What it is a tradition for Peralta to ask his mother for before he goes to school each morning?

5. How does Peralta feel after visiting a Collegiate classmate's home for the first time?

6. What was Peralta's and his family's main holiday diversion during his childhood while they lived in the homeless shelter?

7. Why does Peralta decide he wants to attend an Ivy League school?

8. How does Peralta's family afford to eat when he and Yando are young children and his mother can not work for lack of papers?

9. Why do Peralta's parents go their separate ways in the early 1990s?

10. Why does Peralta's family first come to America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Peralta become so interested in books and literature, and what does education come to symbolize for him as he matures? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

When does Peralta first begin to understand the significance of his and his mother's lack of papeles, or immigration papers? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What is one possible path to citizenship for Peralta's mother, Maria, that she is not yet prepared to take, to Peralta's frustration? Why does Maria refuse to take this potential path to citizenship? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 657 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample