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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. Why does Rodriguez's mother call him "Mr. Secrets"?

2. Does Rodriguez's mother blame him for what happened to their family?

3. Now that Rodriguez is an adult and done with school, what does his mother ask him to do?

4. As he gets older, what do people tell Rodriguez about his complexion?

5. Why do the new minority students on campus make Rodriguez uneasy?

Short Essay Questions

1. As a teacher, how does Rodriguez interact with these other minority students? Why does he act that way?

2. Now that he is older, how do people respond to Rodriguez's skin color?

3. What conversation does Rodriguez have with a colleague about teaching positions? What decision does Rodriguez make as a result of that conversation?

4. How do Rodriguez's ideas about dark skin change as he grows up? Give specific examples.

5. Why does Rodriguez's mother call him "Mr. Secrets"? In spite of his secretive behavior, what does Rodriguez believe she knows?

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

7. How do Rodriguez's ideas about religion change as he grows up? How does his practice of religion change?

8. How would Rodriguez change affirmative action? What examples does he offer to support his suggestion?

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

10. How does Rodriguez handle applying for teaching positions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rodriguez tells his mother that there are some things it is easier to discuss with a stranger than with a family member.

Part One: What specific things do you think Rodriguez would rather discuss with a stranger than with his family members?

Part Two: Do you agree with his statement? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Rodriguez talks a lot about the difference between public and private language.

Part One: How does he define the difference between public and private language? Analyze what he is saying - don't just say that his public language is English and his private language is Spanish. What really defines the differences between the two types of language?

Part Two: Do people have to be bilingual to have a private language? Why or why not? Use examples from the book to support your argument.

Part Three: Are there times when two characters are speaking the same language but not really communicating or understanding each other? What does that say about private and public language?

Essay Topic 3

Rodriguez repeatedly describes his experience of moving from a small, sheltered, or narrow world to a larger, less protected, more broad-minded world as he grows up. As he grows up, his views change on:

1) Skin color

2) Religion

3) The importance of language as a way to develop intimacy

4) Books

Choose at least two of those. Identify what Rodriguez's original opinion or idea was, what he later starts to believe, and what events in his life led him to change his perspective.

(see the answer keys)

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