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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 illness strikes Reinaldo Aguero in the winter of 1914?

2. What characteristic of his favorite animal does Ignacio find particularly attractive?

3. Which of the following is NOT an injury that Reina sustains trying to move the last water pump in El Cobre?

4. Where does Reina spend most of her time while recovering from her injuries?

5. How long does Reina sit in the Cuban government's office before she receives the answer about her visa to travel to America?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the working relationship between Ignacio and Blanca change after she finds out she is pregnant?

2. What happens to Dulce when she is fired from her job and becomes homeless?

3. What injuries does Reina sustain when she is hit by lightning?

4. What gifts does Reina give to Isabel and her new son, Raku?

5. What happens when Dulce meets Bengt and returns to his hotel with him?

6. What is Gonzalo's theory about Herberto's attackers, and how does Constancia feel about Gonzalo's theory?

7. Why does the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution come to visit Reina while she is recovering?

8. How does Constancia react to Reina's theories about their father killing their mother?

9. How does Reina feel about her relationship with Russ after returning from the journey with her sister?

10. Who is Evaristo Leal, and why does he show up on Constancia's doorstep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The mystery surrounding Reina's true father is one of the greatest mysteries in the novel. Explain why Reina does not believe Ignacio is her natural birth father, and what evidence shows up during the course of the novel to support or discount her claims. Then explain what conclusion Reina finally comes to about her patronage at the end of the novel, and why.

Essay Topic 2

The bone that Blanca wore around her neck when Reina was a small child is of particular importance to her. Explain the way that Blanca wore the bone and what impact it had on Reina as a child. Then, explain what happened to the bone after Blanca died, and how it was eventually returned to its rightful owner.

Essay Topic 3

Ignacio is presented in the novel as a man who takes advantage of others in order to further his own career. Explain how Ignacio charmed his way into a luxurious life, and ultimately, what the effects of a swindler's life had on his existence.

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