Straw into Gold

What was Cisneros ask to do at the dinner she was invited to in France?

• give a toast
• make corn tortillas
• recite one of her poems
• tell stories about Mexico

According to Cisneros, what is the only way sons and daughters of her culture leave their father's house?

• by marrying
• by insulting the father
• by finding a job
• by attending college

What did Cisneros inherit from her father?

• a flair for the dramatic
• a fiery temperament
• a love of books and literature
• a love of wandering

Why is Texas significant to Cisneros?

• She learned to be a gardener there.
• She met her husband there.
• She connected with her Mexican heritage there.
• She found the inspiration for her first novel there.

Which statement best expresses the thesis of Cisneros's essay?

• Lonely people often have a special insight into the lives of others.
• Latina women are as capable of succeeding as the men in their families.
• Difficult lives produce great writing.
• Strong families help create strong individuals.

How does the essay's title relate to the author's anecdote of how she made tortillas?

• Life is like a fairytale.
• We are sometimes asked to accomplish impossible tasks.
• To the hungry, food is gold.
• Foolish people cannot tell straw from gold or a good tortilla from a bad one.