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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. What does Mami pour onto Papi's clothes when she throws them onto the porch?

2. Where do the town people seek shelter at the opening of "Mami Gets a Job"?

3. When Mami arrives to pick up Esmeralda in "Why Women Remain Jamona", what amenity does Mami brag about having?

4. The children smell what kind of soap when the men come home after work?

5. What does Mami's skin smell like when she picks up Esmeralda?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Abuela treat Esmeralda's injury?

2. Describe the house Esmeralda's family moves to in "Someone is Coming to Take Your Lap".

3. Explain how Esmeralda feels about the treatment of jibaros.

4. Describe the song at the opening of "The American Invasion of Macun".

5. Explain the concept of dignidad.

6. What is a purgante and why must the children drink them?

7. According to Esmeralda, what is the function of nicknames in Puerto Rican culture?

8. Describe the house Esmeralda's family moves into at the beginning of Chapter 1: Jibara.

9. Explain why Esmeralda feels she has been punished for choosing to work with her father instead of listening to her mother.

10. Why does Papi cry in "Fighting Naked"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the way sexuality is treated throughout Esmeralda's life. How is she educated about sex and sexuality? How do events in her life teach her about sexuality? Consider various points in the memoir, including but not limited to the sexual relationship between Mami and Papi, the interaction between Tato and Esmeralda, the interaction between Esmeralda and Don Luis.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the memoir, Esmeralda's notions of body change depending on her age and the culture in which she is participating. Trace the evolution of Esmeralda's understanding of the body and body image. How do changes in Mami's appearance influence her understanding of body image? How do interactions with boys and men shape her perception of her own body? How do interactions with other girls influence her feelings about her body? What is the strongest influence on Esmeralda's notions of her body?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Santiago's treatment of childhood and the child's perspective throughout this work. How does she portray her own childhood? How does the child narrator provide a commentary unavailable to an adult narrator? How does Santiago's treatment of childhood compare with mainstream American notions of childhood? What has growing up in jibara culture contributed to her notions of childhood?

(see the answer keys)

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