House on Mango Street p. 14-32

In "Our Good Day", Cisneros reveals something about Esperanza, our narrator, in this exchange:

"We come from Texas, Lucy says and grins. Her was born here, but me I'm Texas.

"You mean she, I say

No, I'm from Texas, and doesn't get it.

What does this reveal about Esperanza?

• She doesn't know where Texas is.

• She cares about language and corrects people's grammar.

• She does not want to be Lucy's friend.

• She wishes people would get her jokes.

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In "Laughter", Esperanza and her little sister Nenny agree that a house they pass by with their friends reminds them of Mexico:

Esperanza says, "I don't know why. There was nothing about the house that looked exactly like the houses I remembered. I'm not even sure why I thought it, but it seemed to feel right."

Nenny's agreement with her makes Esperanza feel close to her sister. Why?

• Nenny will never disagree with Esperanza in public.

• They will win the bet with their friends.

• Sharing the same uncertainty and feeling of loss about their past comforts Esperanza.

• Esperanza likes to feel smarter than Nenny.

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Why does Marin live with Louie's family?

• her family is in Puerto Rico
• they needed help with the two little sisters
• she needed a job
• she had no where to live

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Marin is a character who represents conventional expectations for girls at the time. Cisneros ends the vignette with this image:

"Marin, under the streetlight, dancing by herself is singing the same song somewhere. I know. Is waiting for a car to stop, a star to fall, someone to change her life."

What is Cisneros saying about this character and her expectations?

• She will go to Hollywood and become famous.

• She doesn't believe in her own ability to change her circumstances.

• She likes to sing and dance and is happy by herself.

• She should go back to Puerto Rico.

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Esperanza pays a dime to buy something symbolic at Gil's Furniture. What is it?

• A music box

• Gold glasses

• A Statue of Liberty

• A broken tv

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One could say the character Meme Ortiz is a "hot mess". Provide two examples from the way Cisneros describes him that indicate this.

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What can we infer from what happens in "Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin"?

• Louie's cousin stole the yellow Cadillac.

• Louie will marry Marin

• The police have the wrong man

• Esperanza will never learn to drive.

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The most direct statement Cisneros makes about prejudice and stereotypes is in the vignette "Those Who Don't".

"But we aren't afraid. We know the guy with the crooked eye is Davey the Baby's brother, and the tall one next to him in the straw brim, that's Rosa's Eddie V., and the big one that looks like a dumb grown man, he's Fat Boy, though he's not fat anymore nor a boy."

Why does she include this descriptive passage here?

• To explain why Esperanza will never leave Mango Street

• To express that when you know people as individuals they are not scary

• To demonstrate that nicknames are not helpful.

• These are Esperanza's uncles

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Cisneros comments on the harsh circumstances of an overwhelmed single mother and her children in "There was an Old Woman". Mrs. Vargas has been left with many children and no income by her husband. Throughout the passage the dangers get worse for the Vargas kids until what happens?

• The children spit down on Mr. Benny from his roof.

• Little Efren Vargas bends trees and runs in the street.

• Refugia Vargas gets her head stuck between two slats in a gate

• Angel Vargas dies in a fall

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The character Alicia in "Alicia who sees Mice" wants to get a college degree. Is she supported by her father in achieving this goal?

• Yes

• No

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