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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 skill does Abuela teach Esmeralda?

2. How are the houses in Saturce different than the houses in Macun?

3. What place do the children sneak into to steal grapefruit?

4. What natural phenomenon opens "Mami Gets a Job"?

5. What is the closest city to Macun?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Papi, why do Americans speak Spanish so poorly?

2. What is a jamona?

3. Why do Ramona and Pablo fight at the beginning of "Fighting Naked"?

4. How does Esmeralda react when Mami dresses up to go to the factory in Toa Baja?

5. What is the purpose of the meeting the women and children attend in "The American Invasion of Macun"?

6. Why does Papi cry in "Fighting Naked"?

7. What is a jibara? Why does Esmeralda think she might be one?

8. What is a purgante and why must the children drink them?

9. Describe the house Esmeralda's family moves into at the beginning of Chapter 1: Jibara.

10. How does Esmeralda react to the news that her father has a child with another woman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Santiago's depiction of Puerto Rican culture in the book. Does she present a single Puerto Rican culture, or perhaps many? How does Santiago treat this/these culture(s)? Does Santiago present a critique or celebration of traditional Puerto Rican culture?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the way Santiago portrays the Puerto Rican culture in the United States. How, according to the book, do Puerto Ricans adapt to living in New York? How do their lives change? What remains the same? How does Santiago seem to feel about these changes? How does Santiago act as a detached observer of the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the memoir, Esmeralda's notions of body change depending on her age and the culture in which she is participating. Trace the evolution of Esmeralda's understanding of the body and body image. How do changes in Mami's appearance influence her understanding of body image? How do interactions with boys and men shape her perception of her own body? How do interactions with other girls influence her feelings about her body? What is the strongest influence on Esmeralda's notions of her body?

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