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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Based on her behavior, who does Rodriguez's mother consider part of the "gringos"?
(a) Her children's friends and spouses.
(b) Her next door neighbors.
(c) Her children.
(d) Her grandchildren.

2. What does Rodriguez's professor ask him about applying for teaching jobs?
(a) If he wants to get a job this year.
(b) If he is sure he wants to teach college.
(c) If Rodriguez thinks the jobs will find him because he is a minority candidate.
(d) If he is willing to teach at a far away school.

3. According to Rodriguez, who does affirmative action help?
(a) White college professors who feel guilty about the Civil Rights Movement.
(b) Minority students who already have some advantages.
(c) All minority students.
(d) White students who want an excuse for not getting into school.

4. How do Rodriguez's parents see themselves in American society?
(a) They are totally separate from American society.
(b) They can participate in it, but they keep themselves separate.
(c) They are a part of American society.
(d) They want to be more a part of American society than they are.

5. Why does Rodriguez's mother call him "Mr. Secrets"?
(a) Because he likes to surprise them.
(b) Because he does not talk to his family.
(c) Because he lies to his family.
(d) Because he hides things from his family.

Short Answer Questions

1. Based on his conversation with his classmate, what does Rodriguez decide?

2. What does Rodriguez hope writing the book will do?

3. When he was a child, what did his parents say he looked like?

4. At what stage in their academic career does Rodriguez believe students need help?

5. As an adult, what do people think his complexion says about him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Rodriguez looks at the students of the 1960s and 1970s from a teacher's perspective. What does he see as the difference between them?

2. How does Rodriguez feel about white students' attitudes toward affirmative action?

3. How does Rodriguez explain psychiatry to his mother? Does she understand? Why or why not? How does that discussion connect to his book and what he is willing to tell her about the book?

4. How does Rodriguez describe his mother's interaction with the public world? Give specific examples.

5. How does Rodriguez feel about writing? How does he feel about writing about his family? How has he handled it in the past? How is he handling it now?

6. What does Rodriguez think about the Civil Rights Movement?

7. What does Rodriguez decide to do about a job?

8. How does Rodriguez handle applying for teaching positions?

9. As more minority students attend college, what does Rodriguez notice about their relationship to their culture? Give specific examples.

10. As a child, what does Rodriguez learn about dark skin?

(see the answer keys)

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