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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 Tata react to the news that Francisco has fallen ill?

2. Which family member dies during "Casi Senorita"?

3. What didn't Esmeralda mean to steal from the baby's piggy bank?

4. What does the family eat when they arrive at Tata's?

5. Which memory causes Esmeralda to cry in "El Mangle"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the church Mami sends the children to in "Casi Senorita".

2. Discuss the differences between Angie and Gladys.

3. Why does Esmeralda say that it is impossible to escape the stench when her family lives in El Mangle?

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

5. Describe Dona Andrea.

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

7. Discuss the interactions between Esmeralda's family and the taxi driver in "Angels on the Ceiling".

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

9. How does Esmeralda describe her first experience of snow?

10. How does Esmeralda describe the stewardesses at the beginning of "Angels on the Ceiling"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

Examine Santiago's discussion of the increasing U.S. influence. How does Santiago address the growing U.S. presence in the lives of Puerto Ricans? How does her perspective compare to Papi's perception of the U.S. American "imperialists"? Consider events such as the hygiene and nutrition meeting in forming your answer.

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