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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. Xiomara says that she is the only member of her family without what item?

2. Xavier calls Xavier "the worst" (98) what "in the world" (98)?

3. Xiomara states that Xavier is always looking at what two objects so often that he barely knows she is there "at all" (100)?

4. At what "scarred" (17) part or parts of Mami's body does Xiomara look during their conversation about the Dominican Republic?

5. In what form does Xiomara compose the rough drafts of her biography for English class?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the irony present in the scene when Mami returns home to find Xavier crying and blames Xiomara.

2. Name three reasons that Xiomara decides, after the initial excitement has faded, not to respond to the flyer she sees at school.

3. How is foreshadowing used within the poem "About a Twin" (103)?

4. What future goals does Xiomara have her herself and how do you know?

5. What comment of Father Sean's causes Xiomara to launch into a tirade about the Bible during confirmation class?

6. What is Xavier's reaction when Xiomara asks him why he has been smiling so much lately?

7. In what format is the novel The Poet X composed?

8. What metaphor is used in "Catching Feelings" (105) to portray Xiomara's growing feelings of infatuation?

9. In what way is Xiomara's feeling of repression within the church linked to her feelings of repression as a Latina woman?

10. What simile does Xiomara use in order to describe the arrival of October?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the themes of religion and control function within the novel and what is Acevedo's message regarding these themes?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the reasons why Acevedo uses both the first person point-of-view and the structure of a verse novel to tell Xiomara’s story in the The Poet X. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what is Acevedo's intended effect on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Acevedo's focus on the theme of communication in The Poet X. What message is Acevedo sending about communication and how does she get these messages across to the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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