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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 Roberto have in the trunk of his car?

2. What does Gerardo do to calm Paulina?

3. Who is knocking at the door?

4. What does Paulina threaten to do if Gerardo goes to the police?

5. What happened to the car's jack?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paulina tell Roberto about her and Gerardo?

2. What does Gerardo say when they realize how late it is and how does Roberto respond?

3. What does Paulina finally say is the main thing she wants from Roberto?

4. Why was the doctor involved with torture?

5. What does Gerardo do when Roberto says Gerardo didn't protect his wife from rape?

6. What does the audience hear from the room where Paulina went?

7. What does Roberto say about Paulina to Gerardo and how does Gerardo respond?

8. What does Roberto ask about concerning the car?

9. What does Paulina do when she comes inside the first time from talking to Gerardo on the terrace?

10. Why does Paulina talk about coffee to Roberto?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Paulina still wants to know how many times Gerardo slept with the other woman. He finally admits to doing so a total of five times. He asks if she truly wants them to torture each other in this way.

1. Why do you think Paulina would try to get a specific number out of Gerardo?

2. What do you think of Gerardo's character after finding out he was with another woman while she was being tortured? Why?

3. Do you think it was easier or more difficult for Paulina to forgive her husband for being with another woman because she was in prison? Would it have been more difficult, do you think, if she had been at home? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Act 1, Scene 3, is an extremely brief scene without dialog, written all in stage directions. The stage is darker still, when a cloud has passed over the moon.

1. Why do you think a writer would have a scene without dialog? Use examples to support your answer.

2. What symbolism do you see in the darkness of the stage? Use examples from the play to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

We are left wondering whether she would actually shoot him at the end of Act 2, Scene 1. Or would Gerardo forget something in the house and return to stop her? We are then forced to literally look at ourselves and those around us. What would each of us do in the same situation? Would we shoot, or let him live the rest of his days with his terrible secret?

1. Do you think you would do what Paulina is doing in her circumstances? Why or why not?

2. Do you think living with what he has done is worse punishment than killing him? Why or why not?

3. If you were a police officer called to the scene of Paulina killing Roberto, after listening to the confession, what would you do? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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