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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Paz, what does it mean when a person is alone?
(a) He is different.
(b) He is inferior.
(c) He is superior.
(d) He can never relate to other people.

2. In the book's argument, what happens when a Mexican woman is passive?
(a) She functions as a channel of the ancient elements: Earth, motherhood, and virginity.
(b) She can no longer relate to the man.
(c) She comes to believe in the societal values given her.
(d) She embodies the ancient elements of earth, motherhood, and virginity.

3. According to Paz's argument, what is the source of the North American's irritation with the pachuco?
(a) He does not know how to relate to the pachuco.
(b) He sees the pachuco as a threat to North American society.
(c) He sees the pachuco as an invader.
(d) He sees the pachuco as a mythical figure, and thus dangerous.

4. To follow Paz's previous argument, what is the result when one Mexican confides in another?
(a) Alienation.
(b) Sadness.
(c) Dishonor.
(d) Affection.

5. According to Paz, why does the liar tell lies to himself?
(a) He does not know the truth.
(b) He is afraid of the world.
(c) He is afraid of himself.
(d) He is afraid of finding truth in other people.

6. What type of book did Xavier Villaurrutia write?
(a) Religious exhortations about life.
(b) Death-related poetry.
(c) Life-related poetry.
(d) A scientific explanation of death.

7. To which of the following does Paz reduce the Mexican character? (Chapter Four, page 73).
(a) The Mexican only lives when he faces death.
(b) The Mexican is stronger when he is alone.
(c) The Mexican is himself only in the crowd of a fiesta or ceremony.
(d) The Mexican does not dare or want to be himself.

8. Why does a Mexican blend into his surroundings and become solely Appearance?
(a) He loves appearance.
(b) He fears human interaction.
(c) He fears appearances.
(d) He wants to end his individuality.

9. In Paz's thought, what does a study of the great myths reveal?
(a) Man has broken the order of the universe.
(b) Man will never truly be saved.
(c) Man can only be saved by something other than himself.
(d) Man will continually become better than he is now.

10. What analogy does Paz use to explain Mexico's history?
(a) A child without a family.
(b) A child without a future.
(c) A man searching for his parents.
(d) A man searching for his wife.

11. In contrast to the North American, what is one of the most noticeable traits about the Mexican character?
(a) His aversion to horror.
(b) His obsession with love.
(c) His disinterest in emotional attachments.
(d) His acceptance of horror.

12. Why is death a part of the fiesta (Chapter Three)?
(a) Because exuberant death is honorable.
(b) Because the Mexican seeks to escape from himself.
(c) Because Mexico celebrates all aspects of life, even the end.
(d) Because people often get drunk and violent.

13. How does the philosophy of progress treat death?
(a) It treats death as one more step in life.
(b) It disregards death entirely.
(c) It pretends to make death disappear.
(d) It minimizes death.

14. Above all other definitions, who is the Chingada?
(a) The representation of virginity.
(b) The representation of violated womanhood.
(c) A mythical mother.
(d) A living mother.

15. Which of the following powers does the saying "I am your father" hold? (Chapter Four, page 80).
(a) The subtle power of the seemingly weaker person.
(b) The power of the justified and privileged person.
(c) The power of the closed person, the aggressor.
(d) The power of the Creator.

Short Answer Questions

1. Paz states that a Mexican utters the words that are considered most evil when which of the following occurs?

2. In Latin America, what was the importance of Jose Gorostiza's poem, Muerte sin Fin?

3. Aside from being an excess, what does the fiesta revolt against?

4. Why are woman considered inferior people?

5. Through dissimulation, what does a Mexican attempt to do?

(see the answer keys)

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