American History

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which scenario best shows the theme of Racism and Ethnic Discrimination?

A) Elena isn't allowed in honors classes because English isn't her first language, despite straight A's.

B) Elena is given the nickname "Skinny Bones."

C) Elana doesn’t feel sad about the president's assassination.

D) Mr. DePalma calls his students losers.

2. What do the flowers of the old woman who lived in Eugene's house symbolize?

A) An escape from her home and marriage

B) The love and care the woman put into her home and marriage

C) The desire to hold onto a Paterson that existed before the demographics changed

D) Foreshadowing of President Kennedy's assassination

3. "El Building was like a monstrous jukebox, blasting out salsas from open windows as the residents" is an example of which kind of figurative language? (Paragraph 1)

A) Hyperbole

B) Allegory

C) Onomatopoeia

D) Simile

4. The author uses juxtaposition to illustrate which of the following concepts?

A) The complexity of Elena’s internal and external experiences

B) The wealth disparity in Paterson

C) The racism and ethnic discrimination in Paterson

D) Elena’s hope for the future with Eugene

5. Which of the following best illustrates the theme of Changing Demographics in Northern Communities?

A) The arrival of Eugene’s family in Paterson

B) Elena’s father’s job at the blue jeans factory

C) The angry reaction of Mr. DePalma to President Kennedy’s assassination

D) El Building is now housing Puerto Rican and Black families after years of Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants.

6. President Kennedy’s assassination best embodies which of the following concepts?

A) The racism and bigotry of the time

B) The continuation of segregation in the United States

C) The end of the promise of progress regarding civil rights and race in the United States

D) The end of Elena’s childhood

7. Which scenario best shows the divide between Elena and her mother?

A) When Elena returns from Eugene’s, her mother is out mourning President Kennedy’s death with other people.

B) When Elena begins menstruating, her mother lectures her on sex and morality.

C) When Elena is about to leave for Eugene’s, her mother warns her she is making a mistake.

D) When Elena went to Puerto Rico, she missed Paterson.

8. Eugene’s mother’s “honey-drenched voice” that speaks hateful racism is an example of which literary device?

A) Foreshadowing

B) Archetype

C) Juxtaposition

D) Motif

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your answer.

1. How would you describe Elena’s understanding of marriage and romance throughout the story?