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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 many children did Maria and Nestor have?

2. Who is in labor?

3. Before the rainstorm, how long had it been since she washed her hands?

4. With whom is Maria Elena in love?

5. Where does the raindrop hit on her body?

Short Essay Questions

1. After the military visitor comes, where do the prisoners have to brush their teeth?

2. What does Alicia say is the only thing certain in their lives other than bread?

3. On what list are Graciela and Raul listed?

4. What happened to the son Graciela bore at the Little School?

5. Why are Alicia and her husband placed side by side?

6. Why was Alicia suspicious of a newspaper report that surfaced claiming two couples were killed in a confrontation with the military in their area?

7. How do the prisoners communicate with the bread?

8. Why were high school students taken prisoner at the Little School?

9. When a batch of new prisoners arrive, what is Alicia requested to do?

10. What character trait helps Alicia get through many of her trials at the Little School?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Water is used throughout the text. What does water typically symbolize? What does it symbolize for Alicia? How does water play into everyday life at the Little School? Why isn't Alicia bothered by the Chinese water torture? Choose at least three instances in the work involving water. Compare and contract the role of water throughout the work.

Essay Topic 2

Though the prisoners are forced to endure physical torture, they must also endure psychological torture. How is psychological torture different from physical torture? Choose two instances of psychological torture to discuss. How effective is the psychological torture at the Little School? How do the prisoners deal with it?

Essay Topic 3

Why is studying history important? How does the study of history help us to:

1) Reexamine past mistakes?

2) Plan for the future?

3) Gain a greater understanding of our heritage as human beings?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 492 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample