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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 do the boys do in the streets near Esmeralda's home in "Casi Senorita"?

2. How old is Esmeralda when the family moves to New York?

3. What happens to Dona Cony in "El Mangle"?

4. What does Papi do shortly after the family moves to New York without him?

5. What didn't Esmeralda mean to steal from the baby's piggy bank?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Esmeralda cope with the embarrassment of being singled out for her sub-standard math skills in front of the class?

3. Explain the deal Esmeralda strikes with Mr. Gray.

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

5. Describe the house the family moves into at the beginning of "Letters from NY".

6. Discuss the differences between Angie and Gladys.

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Santiago's depiction of Puerto Rican culture in the book. Does she present a single Puerto Rican culture, or perhaps many? How does Santiago treat this/these culture(s)? Does Santiago present a critique or celebration of traditional Puerto Rican culture?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Santiago's presentation of family in the memoir. How does she treat her own family in writing this book? Does the family provide a healthy living environment? Is her family a traditional Puerto Rican family? If not traditional, is it in any way typical of a particular socio-economic, regional, or cultural group within the nation?

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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