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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 is the closest city to Macun?

2. When Esmeralda is living in Saturce, what nighttime sound does she miss most?

3. What does Esmeralda sell at a stand in the yard?

4. The children smell what kind of soap when the men come home after work?

5. Why won't Abuela make breakfast before Mass?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Which feature does Abuela say Esmeralda shares with her father, and what does this feature supposedly indicate?

5. Describe the house Esmeralda's family moves to in "Someone is Coming to Take Your Lap".

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

7. Describe Rita's attire in "Someone is Coming to Take Your Lap".

8. How does Esmeralda react when she learns how sausages are made?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Analyze Santiago's treatment of class throughout the book. What role does class play in Puerto Rican culture? In U.S. culture? How does the perception of class differ from place to place? How is Esmeralda's life affected by notions of class?

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