View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When she first arrived in El Mangle, why wouldn't Esmeralda drink water?

2. When Mami returns from New York, what color are her fingernails painted?

3. Which authority figure in Esmeralda's life is so gullible as to believe everything the children tell him/her?

4. What does Miss Brown, the homeroom teacher, wear?

5. What kind of math problem is Esmeralda called to the board to solve?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Dona Andrea.

2. How has Mami's new appearance changed the way she interacts with people in Puerto Rico?

3. What happens when Don Joaquin calls on sinners to cast off evil?

4. Why does Esmeralda scream at Don Luis during her piano lessons?

5. Discuss the differences between Angie and Gladys.

6. How does Esmeralda feel as Nicasia leads her through the process of blessing the dead baby?

7. Describe the house the family moves into at the beginning of "Letters from NY".

8. How does the vision of romance which Esmeralda receives from soap operas compare with the relationship model she receives from her parents?

9. What is Esmeralda's first impression of New York as the plane touches down?

10. How does Francisco's family react to the news that he has cancer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Santiago address issues of Puerto Rican identity in this memoir about her childhood and immigration experience? To Santiago, what does it mean to be Puerto Rican? What does it mean to be a Puerto Rican girl living in the United States? How are these two identities different? How are they similar? Support your response with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

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?

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 830 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample