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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 are the prisoners required to address the guards?

2. For what are the prisoners constantly looking for in their beds?

3. What beauty treatment is Alicia told to perform?

4. Which guard's name means "old man"?

5. What do the prisoners use when they "dry clean" their hands?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Alicia make the bread balls?

2. What does Vaca do just before he brings the prisoners the toothbrushes?

3. What happened to Alicia the first time she called for a "Senor"?

4. What is the subject of chapter 11, A Puzzle?

5. Why do the prisoners hate the word "Senor"?

6. What are the two fierce shadows of Alicia's poem?

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

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

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

10. How does she feel when she is able to wash her hands with the leak?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the chapters written form Alicia's perspective and the chapter written from Graciela's perspective. How are they similar? How do they differ? Be sure to examine:

1) Syntax.

2) Rhythm.

3) Content.

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the one flower slippers? What do they represent? What do they mean to Alicia and Vasca? Why is the large plastic flower so ridiculous given their situation? How long does it take for Alicia to get "decent" shoes? Discuss the symbolism of the one-flower slipper covered in excrement from the latrine.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Benja's first night. How does Alicia know him? How does Maria Elena know him? What are the guards doing to him? How does Alicia try to help him? How do they others try to help him? What insights do Alicia's attempts at aiding Benja give into her character?

(see the answer keys)

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