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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. How does Forche perceive the behavior of Leonel's young daughters?

2. Why does Leonel tell Forche they cannot move the bodies they find in the street?

3. What does Margarita call Forche?

4. How did Leonel get from El Salvador to Forche's house when he visits her for the first time?

5. What kind of vehicle do Forche and Leonel take on her first trip to the campo?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Forche's experience observing and helping in Dr. Vicky's hospital?

2. What does Leonel say to Forche when she first arrives in El Salvador on her first trip that makes her think her travel there was a mistake?

3. What does Forche realize Leonel enjoys immensely during the time he stays with her in California?

4. Why does Forche give up on the idea of a medical career as a young woman?

5. How does the first scene Forche describes in El Salvador, on pages 3 - 4, set the tone for the rest of the book?

6. What did Forche first think the death squads were, and why did she think that?

7. What does Forche want to do when she and Leonel come upon two dead men in the street for the first time? (108).

8. What does Forche think would have happened if she had not answered her door to Leonel in California on the first day he visited her?

9. What is one of the frustrating things about traveling with Leonel that bothers Forche?

10. What does Leonel do immediately when he arrives at Forche's house and continue doing for several days?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing how the stage of life and career Forche was in when Leonel first appeared on her doorstep in California contributed to her willingness and ability to travel to El Salvador for extended stays and to begin to bear witness to the turmoil and violence that wracked the country throughout the late 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

Essay Topic 2

How does Forche react when Leonel first starts revealing graphic details about General Cachon's torture tactics? What do you think is Leonel's intent in revealing such disturbing details to Forche? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how Forche first becomes aware of the extent of the problem of desaparecidos in El Salvador. Who introduces the concept to her and explains what is being done to try to help bring the families of those who have disappeared some comfort and closure?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 854 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample