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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Pascal Aguila's cause of death?
(a) Stabbing.
(b) Shooting.
(c) Suicide.
(d) Pneumonia.

2. For how many years has Gabriel Olondriz been in prison?
(a) 36.
(b) 3.
(c) 23.
(d) 12.

3. What happened to make Gardo frightened of rats?
(a) His hand was bitten by a rat and the wound got infected.
(b) His little sister's hand was bitten and the hand got infected.
(c) His aunt's hand was bitten and the hand got infected.
(d) His father's hand was bitten and the hand got infected.

4. In what type of vehicle had Pascal Aguila been riding when his death occurred?
(a) Taxi.
(b) Train.
(c) Motorcycle sidecar.
(d) Ambulance.

5. What position had Pascal Aguila held before his untimely death?
(a) Lawyer.
(b) Pharmacist.
(c) Doctor.
(d) Contractor.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who tries to keep the dumpsite boys away from the crane-belts while they are running?

2. How much money does Raphael say he can get from one half-good tire that he finds at the dumpsite?

3. What does Father Juilliard say are "what we live by, even though we all know they're sometimes foolish" (52)?

4. What do the dumpsite boys have to do to the paper before they can sell it?

5. Raphael describes the mountains of trash as stretching from the sea to the what feature?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the boys jump off of the train before it pulls into the station?

2. Besides the cash, what item inside the leather bag convinces Rat that Jose Angelico, the purported owner of the bag, is a wealthy man?

3. What is the main point of Grace's piece of narration from the story?

4. What reason does Grace give for Pia Dante not having lived with her father, Jose Angelico, while he was still alive?

5. At what point does Raphael realize that the contents of the bag must be hugely important to the police?

6. When Raphael is finally released from the police station, why does he laugh as he walks home?

7. When Raphael says that he and Gardo might as well be brothers, what evidence does he give to support this conclusion?

8. What are all of the items of value that Raphael and Gardo find inside the "special" (18) containing the mysterious and money-laden leather bag?

9. Which of the three boys is chosen to open the train station locker with the key from inside the found leather bag and why?

10. Though the police beat Raphael severely, leaving him bruised and battered, what actions do they threaten him with that never actually come to pass?

(see the answer keys)

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