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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 is a chubasco?

2. What does the Manta Diablo seem to be daring Ruiz to do?

3. What "ailment" does the person who refuses go to the celebration claim to be suffering from?

4. Why does La Paz hold a celebration?

5. What do Ruiz and Ramun see many of when they are on their voyage together?

Short Essay Questions

1. Using details from the text, describe how the Sevillano died.

2. Why does Ramun believe that the Indian on the hill might help him if Ramun explains why he has landed on their island?

3. After the Sevillano harpoons the manta and the manta changes course, where is the manta pulling the boat to?

4. When Ramun returns to the lagoon, why isn't he afraid of the Manta Diablo?

5. How does Ramun know that a chubasco storm is brewing?

6. After the pearl is discovered to be missing, why doesn't Ramun tell the truth about the pearl?

7. On the day Ramun returned to La Paz and replaced the pearl in the Madonna's hands, he stated that it was today that he became a man. Why does Ramun feel that this day is the day he earned his manhood?

8. Why does Father Gallardo feel that the Pearl of Heaven has already performed a miracle at the celebration for the pearl?

9. How does the Sevillano react when Ramun tells him that it is the Manta Diablo that almost drowned them and their boat?

10. How do the people of La Paz and the surrounding area travel to the celebration of the Pearl of Heaven?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using details from the text and class discussions, describe Ramun and Gaspar Ruiz's relationship. How are Ruiz and Ramun like brothers? Do Ruiz and Ramun have a friendly relationship? How is Ruiz a negative influence on Ramun? Why does Ramun want to impress Ruiz?

Essay Topic 2

Ramun portrays himself as a nice, decent, respectable person, but the reader is shown a darker side to Ramun. Describe the darker sides of Ramun's personality.

Essay Topic 3

Ramun and his father both mention that the whole town benefits from the pearl trade. Using details from the text and classroom discussions, describe how the whole town benefited from the pearl business.

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