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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. To whom does the narrator of the chapter entitled "The Cousin" write, begging him to "come rescue" (51) her?

2. At what type of carnival does the narrator of the chapter entitled "The Cousin" join a team of people competing in a sculpture contest?

3. What season had the Garcia girls always spent in the Dominican Republic, according to the narrator of the chapter entitled "The Cousin"?

4. With what family member does Sarita live in the Dominican Republic while her mother is working for the Garcias?

5. The narrator of the chapter entitled "The Cousin" recalls that in her teens, she had often spent the night under her bed for what reason?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the narrator of the Prologue upset when she hears her sister Yo on the radio?

2. When the Prologue opens, the narrator is on her way to complete what errand?

3. Describe the nature of the culture shock Sarita experiences upon arriving in New York.

4. Provide three points along the timeline of Sarita's childhood and adolescence.

5. In what way does the narrator of the Prologue deceive one of her sisters within the narrative?

6. For what two reasons does Yo go to Miami?

7. In what way does the theme of appearance versus reality appear within the end of the chapter entitled "The Maid's Daughter"?

8. How does the theme of pride emerge within the first meeting between Yo and Sarita in decades?

9. With which of her four daughters does Mami not get along?

10. Describe the relationship between Yo and Garfield.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the function of Lucinda's character within the novel? Discuss the characterization methods used by the author in depicting Lucinda and include in your discussion the reasons that Alvarez portrays her in these particular ways.

Essay Topic 2

Sensory details are used frequently by the author in order to create vivid pictures of each character's progression through the narrative. Choose three scenes in which sensory details are heavily used and discuss how the sensory details used serve Alvarez’s purpose of creating vivid characters.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Julia Alvarez's novel Yo! from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

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