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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. How often is Alicia allowed to see herself in a mirror?

2. Who is Chiche?

3. As children, what did Alicia's brother call her?

4. Through the peep hole in her blindfold, what does she see Hugo wearing?

5. At the Little School, what are inmates required to wear at all times?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the prisoners suffer from constipation?

2. Why do the guards call Alicia "Death"?

3. How does Alicia counteract her unwanted nickname?

4. Why must Alicia stop trying telepathy?

5. Later, what does Alicia learn about the usefulness of aliases?

6. How was Graciela and Raul's relationship before the Little School?

7. Why do Alicia and Vasca find the plastic daisy so ludicrous?

8. What kind of God does Alicia want to believe in?

9. After waking from a nap about her daughter, what does Alicia discover about herself?

10. Why is Alicia surprised when the military police come for her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is living different than simply surviving? Is Partnoy's work a testament to this difference? Why or why not? What attempts does Partnoy make in the Little School to live and not simply to survive? Choose at least three instances in the work where she makes a conscious effort to exist beyond the status quo, despite her horrible surroundings.

Essay Topic 2

At the Little School, the prisoners were physically detained and bound, but the guards were more worried about their mental freedom. Why would that appear more dangerous than the prisoners' physical freedom? How does Alicia feel about being spiritually and mentally free? Discuss the different physical and mental restraints at the Little School. How does Alicia attempt to overcome such restraints?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Alicia's nose.

1) As a young girl, how did Alicia feel about her nose?

2) What problems has she historically had with her nose?

3) How does her nose become a blessing at the Little School?

4) Ultimately, how do Alicia and her nose reconcile?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 583 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample