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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 does Anita realize about their Mami when they are waiting for Papi?

2. What grade is Anita placed in at school in New York?

3. What do Lucinda's family members and Susie tell Lucinda?

4. What do the Washburns decide to offer concerning Lucinda?

5. What do the grandparents call Thanksgiving?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Papi say he wants for his children?

2. What does Anita overhear her father and other men talking about concerning Trujillo, and what does Anita's mother say to the men?

3. What happens when Mr. Washburn is driving in traffic?

4. What message from Chucha does Tia Mari give Anita ?

5. What does Anita discover when she goes into Lucinda's room, and what is Anita's reaction?

6. What does the teacher tell the students in school the day Lucinda is leaving and how does Anita react?

7. What does Anita learn about Chucha?

8. Who does Anita see out the bathroom window and what does she think?

9. What are Mami and Anita waiting for and how has Pupo failed the rebels?

10. What happens the night before Lucinda leaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Before We Were Free" belongs to the young-adult-novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give examples of three other genres in addition to the young-adult-novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons that it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons that it might be disadvantageous to do so.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young-adult novel and a historical mystery novel ?

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Before We Were Free" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? If not, can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable? Why or why not? If yes, which ones?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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