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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 Penny introduce Lou at a party within the chapter entitled "The Student"?

2. What is Lou's last name?

3. Besides Jose's wife and children, which other member of the family lives in Jose's house?

4. In what location does Lou find and buy a book written by Yo?

5. In what state does Yo meet Marie and Clair?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the ways in which the characters of Yo and Dexter differ.

2. How does Alvarez depict the effects of the cycle of abuse within the novel?

3. In what way does Alvarez set up the United States and the Dominican Republic as foil settings?

4. To what phrase does Yo have a strong reaction during her conversation with Jose?

5. For what reason does Yo come to join Tammy in bed within the chapter entitled "The Best Friend"?

6. What observation of Yo's causes Tammy to burst into tears within the chapter entitled "The Best Friend"?

7. How does irony arise within Tammy's comments about Yo's lack of romantic interest in men?

8. How does Alvarez portray the theme of superstition and religious belief within the chapter entitled "The Night Watchman"?

9. In what way is the theme of rebirth demonstrated within the chapter entitled "The Landlady"?

10. Discuss Dexter's metaphor of the caged "bright bird" (204).

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Alvarez's use of contrasting settings within her novel Yo!.

Essay Topic 2

Explicate the theme of family bonds within Julia Alvarez's novel Yo!. What is Alvarez's message regarding family bonds and how do you know?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of Julia Alvarez's novel Yo! and analyze the author's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

(see the answer keys)

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