| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What kinds of cats does Cathy have?
Baby cats, big cats, skinny cats, sick cats. Cats asleep like little donuts. Cats on top of the refrigerator. Cats thing a walk on the dinner table.
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What isn't for sale at the junk store?
A music box.
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Do the Vargas kids' parents care about their own kids?
They gave up because there were too many. This is why the kids have no respect for anything around them and not even themselves.
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What are the mice that Alicia sees?
Men.
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Why doesn't Esperanza correct the nun?
She would rather be stereotyped, anyway. She accepts her stereotypes.
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Why does Cathy move away?
She moved to another neighborhood because the neighborhood is getting bad, every time people like Esperanza move in.
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What is Meme's real name?
Juan.
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What is a woman's place according to Alicia's father?
Sleeping so she can wake up early and tend to the house.
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How many names do the Eskimos have for snow?
30.
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What is Uncle Nacho referring to when he says "too many this?"
Too many drinks.
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What is the amount of money Esperanza must give to be Cathy's friend forever?
$5
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Who built the house Meme moved into?
Cathy's father.
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Why does Alicia go to the university instead of staying at home?
She doesn't want to become a housewife for the rest of her life. She wants to be someone.
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Why does Esperanza say that she is tired of being beautiful?
Because men will continuously harass her and her friends and family.
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Where does Esperanza work?
Peter Pan Photo Finishers on North Broadway.
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How are Nenny and Esperanza alike?
Their laughters are the same. And other things she can't explain.
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What happened when Esperanza met Louie's boy cousin?
He robbed a car and got arrested.
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Does Esperanza show prejudice towards other families of other colors? Why?
Yes. She says that her knees go shakily-shake whenever she goes into a neighborhood of another color and that her windows get rolled up tight and her eyes look straight ahead. This means that just as people are scared of her race, she is just as scared of other races.
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Why is it important to know that Rachel almost gave the bum man a dollar?
Woman will allow themselves to be harassed in order to survive. This says a lot about gender roles and how society works in the favor of the man.
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What does the old man at the end of "The First Job" reveal about how women are treated in this book? Do you think Esperanza has an identity?
Women are treated like objects of pleasure for men. Esperanza does not have an identity in a man's perspective because she is looked at merely for her body.
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What is a description of the junk store?
An old man owns it. It is small and has a dirty window for light. There are tables with their feet upside-down and rows and rows of refrigerators with round corners and couches that spin dust in the air... everything is on top of everything so the whole store has skinny aisles to walk through.
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Marin and Louie's parents say Marin is too much trouble. Why would she be trouble?
Think of her gender stereotypes. She does not follow them wholly. She is strong and fierce and does not care what men think of her.
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Why do people think Esperanza's family is dangerous?
Racial and prejudicial stereotypes.
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What is the significance of the nun pointing towards the ugly houses?
The nun is stereotyping Esperanza's race.
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BONUS QUESTION: IN WHAT CITY DOES THIS BOOK TAKE PLACE?
Chicago, Illinois
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