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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. Who tells Antonio the war is over?

2. What future does Antonio's mother believe an education will provide Antonio?

3. Who does Antonio's father believe fuels his mother's desire for Antonio becoming a priest?

4. What is the name of the bridge the Marez family passes while journeying to El Puerto in Chapter 5?

5. What trade or occupation does Antonio's mother's family come from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Antonio seeing his brothers in his dream?

2. What is Antonio's advantage of having his cubicle at the top of the stairs?

3. What is the importance of Antonio receiving his First Communion on Easter Sunday?

4. Who does Antonio meet before entering Mass?

5. What is the importance of the scapular?

6. Why are the Marez brothers anxious to leave their family?

7. Describe the relationship between Antonio's mother (Maria) and father (Gabriel).

8. What did Narcisco do when he realized he would not be able to get to the Marez home to warn Ultima of Tenorio's revenge?

9. Describe the events which occurred at Tellez's ranch in Aqua Negra.

10. What is the significance of the river for Antonio?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bless Me, Ultima is a novel detailing a boy's rite-of-passage towards maturity. What are the key events marking Tony's maturity within the novel? How does the novel fall into this genre? Compare this novel to another rite-of-passage novel, such as Huckleberry Finn.

Essay Topic 2

The sun and the moon, the llano and the river play a role in Antonio's maturity. What other characteristics play a significant role in Antonio's development? What individuals play a significant role in Antonio's development? What would happen to Antonio is he did not have these characteristics or characters influencing him?

Essay Topic 3

Bless Me, Ultima is set during World War II. Antonio's brothers are off fighting against the Germans and Japanese forces. How does this time period influence the story? If you could rewrite the novel, what time period would you place the story? Explain your reason.

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