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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 color shirt does Papi want on Sunday morning?

2. What does Mami's skin smell like when she picks up Esmeralda?

3. Where does Tata live?

4. What does Mami pour onto Papi's clothes when she throws them onto the porch?

5. What is mavi, the beverage that Papi makes in "Mami Gets a Job"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Esmeralda have to take the children to Dona Ana's house at the beginning of "Mami Gets a Job"?

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

3. How are the "experts" who speak on nutrition and hygiene received by the Puerto Rican women?

4. What does Esmeralda's family lose in the storm?

5. How does Esmeralda injure her hand at Abuela's house?

6. Describe the song at the opening of "The American Invasion of Macun".

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

8. What is a jamona?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Santiago's experience of religion as a child. How does she convey this experience? What does Santiago's experience with religion say about the status of the Church in Puerto Rico? In what ways is Santiago's experience of religion typical or atypical? How does it compare to your preconceived notions of this culture?

Essay Topic 2

The coming of age story, often referred to as a bildungsroman, is a subset of the literary tradition in which the author describes the trials and tribulations of coming into adulthood. Research the form of the bildungsroman, then discuss Santiago's memoir with regard to this form. How does it compare? In what ways does it differ? Why does Santiago choose to develop her memoir in this way?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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