The House on Mango Street

Mama and Papa buy a house that is different from the one they say they will buy because they _____.

• think that this is the house that their

  children will like the best

• cannot afford a house like the one they

  say they will buy

• decide that the house on Mango Street is

  what they want

• cannot find a white house with a big

  yard and trees

The house on Mango Street makes Esperanza feel _____.

• unsure of who she is

• ashamed in front of the nun

• terrified of the future

• disappointed in her parents

What does Esperanza’s desire to have “a real house” reveal about the author’s perspective on home ownership?

• Other people’s opinions of your house

  are unimportant

  .

• Owning a better house than your parents’

  house is a desirable goal.

• Having a pleasing house can instill

  pride and a feeling of belonging.

• Only large houses with nice lawns and

  many rooms are worth owning.

Esperanza says that her name reminds her of _____.

• sad Mexican songs

• fancy chandeliers

• men shaving

• Sunday mornings

Esperanza’s great-grandmother never forgave her great-grandfather for _____.

• marrying her against her wishes

• expecting her to be stronger than she

  was

• making her sit in a window every day

• naming their great-granddaughter

  Esperanza

Esperanza says of her great-grandmother, “I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the

window.” What inference can you make about Esperanza?

• She wants to find her own window.

• She plans to refuse to get married.

• She wishes she could change her name.

• She hopes to accomplish things in her

  life.

Esperanza wants to give herself a new name because she _____.

• envies her sister for having a nickname

  
  

• wants a name that reflects the real her

• disapproves of the way others say her

  name

• dislikes having her great-grandmother’s

  name

Esperanza probably remembers the house on Mango Street the most because it _____.

• has a red front door but no trees

• is the first house that her parents own

• represents disappointment and sadness

• is the least attractive of all of her houses

You can make an inference that Esperanza creates stories about her life to _____.

• free herself from her environment

• be like her story-telling mother

• show her neighbors how smart she is

• remember the streets on which she has lived

Read the following excerpt from the selection.

“One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever.”

What do the lines suggest about the author’s perspective on the strength of women?

• Mothers have to be strong to keep their daughters at home.

• Women are strong enough to break free from sad childhood memories.

• Strong houses are needed to keep strong women at home.

• Strong women have to learn how to keep a house sooner or later.