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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. When Esperanza does the family marketing for the first time, what does Esperanza give to the poor man who approaches her and Isabel?

2. What does Esperanza bring home for Isabel on a day she suspects will be a difficult day for Isabel at school?

3. What does Esperanza give to children of the poor man who approaches them at the market?

4. With someone sick, how do Alfonso and Juan make conditions better?

5. What is one of the dishes that the families have on this first dinner together?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about Esperanza giving beans to the man at Marta's camp?

2. In what way could one see that there is even a subtle class system inherent among migrant workers?

3. How does Esperanza's babysitting skills progress as Chapter 8 develops?

4. When Esperanza helps Marta after the immigration sweep, what is it about Marta that wins over Esperanza?

5. In Chapter 9, before Mama is in the hospital, how does the reader see that her illness affects all?

6. Where are Esperanza's sympathies with regard to the strikers?

7. How is the act of Esperanza's gift of the porcelain doll symbolic?

8. What is the symbolic significance of the the shrine Alfonso and Miguel erect?

9. Comment on the image of communal life at this work camp once the work day is over that Ryan portrays in Chapter 7.

10. At dinner when the family discusses the strike and its progress, how does Miguel's outlook differ from his father's outlook about the support for the strike?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in Esperanza Rising go from riches to rags. Explore the theme of becoming richer in some sense while actually becoming poorer in the economic sense. How is this notion developed as a theme?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 2 of Esperanza Rising, Esperanza is at a low point and her grandmother reminds her of a story she has told Esperanza many times, the myth of the phoenix rising out of its own ashes. What is inspirational about this myth and why is it appropriate that Abuelita, rather than any other character, be the one to refer to this myth at this time?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of perseverance in Esperanza Rising.

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