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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. When Mami returns from New York, what color are her fingernails painted?

2. When she first arrived in El Mangle, why wouldn't Esmeralda drink water?

3. Why do the children misbehave when Mami goes away?

4. What does Mami dislike about Esmeralda's piano teacher?

5. What does the family eat when they arrive at Tata's?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Esmeralda's family react when they learn that Francisco has cancer?

2. How does Esmeralda describe her first experience of snow?

3. How does Esmeralda describe the stewardesses at the beginning of "Angels on the Ceiling"?

4. How does Esmeralda feel as Nicasia leads her through the process of blessing the dead baby?

5. Describe the church Mami sends the children to in "Casi Senorita".

6. What is Esmeralda's first impression of New York as the plane touches down?

7. What happens when Don Joaquin calls on sinners to cast off evil?

8. Why does Esmeralda scream at Don Luis during her piano lessons?

9. Discuss the interactions between Esmeralda's family and the taxi driver in "Angels on the Ceiling".

10. Why does Mami begin sending the children to Sunday school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Santiago's experience of religion as a child. How does she convey this experience? What does Santiago's experience with religion say about the status of the Church in Puerto Rico? In what ways is Santiago's experience of religion typical or atypical? How does it compare to your preconceived notions of this culture?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the role of violence in the memoir. How does Santiago portray violence between her parents? Between children? Based on Santiago's memoir, how is violence treated in Puerto Rican culture?

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