Perspectives & Context
Which two perspectives are most clearly contrasted in this excerpt?
a) Rachel and Mrs. Price
b) Rachel and Felice Garcia
c) Mrs. Price and Phyllis Lopez
d) Rachel and her mother
a) Rachel and Mrs. Price
Which narrative technique does the author use when Rachel compares growing older to “the rings inside a tree”?
a) Flashback
b) Foreshadowing
c) Symbolism
d) Dialogue
✅ c) Symbolism
Which theme is MOST strongly developed through Rachel’s experiences in this excerpt?
a) The importance of friendship
b) The value of speaking confidently in class
c) The struggle between childhood and growing up
d) The danger of false accusations
✅ c) The struggle between childhood and growing up
How does the author structure Rachel’s struggles with the sweater?
a) By describing only her embarrassment
b) By showing the conflict building step by step to a climax
c) By focusing only on Mrs. Price’s authority
d) By skipping from Rachel’s thoughts to her birthday dinner
✅ b) By showing the conflict building step by step to a climax
If you were researching how children experience embarrassment in school, which sources would help?
a) Psychological studies, student interviews, and classroom case studies
b) Comic strips about birthdays
c) Advertisements for children’s clothing
d) Blogs with no sources
✅ a) Psychological studies, student interviews, and classroom case studies
Multi-Select: How does Rachel’s perspective differ from Mrs. Price’s?
☐ Rachel feels humiliated and powerless when the sweater is forced on her.
☐ Rachel believes her age does not match how old she feels inside.
☐ Mrs. Price assumes authority makes her judgment correct.
☐ Mrs. Price recognizes she may have embarrassed Rachel.
✅ Rachel feels humiliated and powerless when the sweater is forced on her.
✅ Rachel believes her age does not match how old she feels inside.
✅ Mrs. Price assumes authority makes her judgment correct.
Place these plot events in correct order.
Rachel insists the sweater is not hers, but Mrs. Price disagrees.
Rachel cries in front of the entire class.
Sylvia Saldivar suggests the sweater belongs to Rachel.
Phyllis Lopez admits the sweater is actually hers.
Sylvia Saldivar suggests the sweater belongs to Rachel.
Rachel insists the sweater is not hers, but Mrs. Price disagrees.
Rachel cries in front of the entire class.
Phyllis Lopez admits the sweater is actually hers.
Which statement best shows how Rachel begins to grow as a character?
a) “It’s not mine, not mine, not mine.”
b) “I wish I was one-hundred-and-two.”
c) “Today I am eleven, eleven.”
d) “I put my head down on the desk and bury my face.”
✅ b) “I wish I was one-hundred-and-two.”
What effect is created by describing the sweater as “all itchy and full of germs”?
a) It exaggerates Rachel’s feelings of disgust and shame
b) It shows the sweater was dangerous
c) It suggests Rachel is being dramatic for attention
d) It explains why Mrs. Price gave it to her
✅ a) It exaggerates Rachel’s feelings of disgust and shame
To learn more about Sandra Cisneros’s writing style, what would be most useful?
a) Modern fashion magazines
b) Social media posts about birthdays
c) Recipes from Mexico
d) Author interviews, literary criticism, and biographies
✅ d) Author interviews, literary criticism, and biographies
Which background information helps the reader understand Rachel’s struggles?
a) She is a shy girl turning eleven on her birthday.
b) She is caught between feeling young and wanting to be older.
c) She faces pressure from both peers and her teacher in class.
d) All of the above
✅ d) All of the above
Which event serves as the major conflict in this excerpt?
a) Rachel thinks about her birthday celebration.
b) Phyllis Lopez admits the sweater is hers.
c) Rachel describes how ages live “inside” her.
d) Rachel is forced to put on the red sweater.
✅ d) Rachel is forced to put on the red sweater.
Multi-Select: How do Rachel’s interactions with others shape this theme?
☐ Mrs. Price demonstrates the authority of adults over children.
☐ Sylvia contributes to Rachel’s humiliation.
☐ Phyllis Lopez reveals the truth too late to help Rachel.
☐ Mama comforts Rachel immediately in the classroom.
✅ Mrs. Price demonstrates the authority of adults over children.
✅ Sylvia contributes to Rachel’s humiliation.
✅ Phyllis Lopez reveals the truth too late to help Rachel.
How does the phrase “I’m eleven, ten, nine…” shape the tone?
a) It creates a humorous and playful mood.
b) It emphasizes Rachel’s confusion and vulnerability.
c) It celebrates her birthday with joy.
d) It suggests she is ready for adulthood.
✅ b) It emphasizes Rachel’s confusion and vulnerability.
Which line best supports Rachel’s struggle with self-image?
a) “You don’t feel eleven. Not right away.”
b) “I put one arm through one sleeve of the sweater that smells like cottage cheese.”
c) “Mama is making a cake for me tonight.”
d) “It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”
✅ a) “You don’t feel eleven. Not right away.”
How does the classroom setting impact Rachel’s development in this scene?
a) It forces her to gain respect from her classmates.
b) It intensifies her humiliation by making her feelings public.
c) It allows her to quietly escape without being noticed.
d) It reminds her of joyful birthdays in the past.
✅ b) It intensifies her humiliation by making her feelings public.
How does Rachel’s characterization influence the pacing of the story?
a) Her quiet resistance slows the action and builds tension.
b) Her loud arguments speed up the conflict.
c) Her confidence delays Mrs. Price’s decision.
d) Her humor creates a pause before the climax.
✅ a) Her quiet resistance slows the action and builds tension.
Which moment best illustrates how Rachel’s emotional response is influenced by authority figures?
a) Rachel moves her chair away from the sweater.
b) Rachel thinks about her birthday dinner that night.
c) Rachel cries after being told to put on the sweater.
d) Rachel imagines throwing the sweater over the fence.
c) Rachel cries after being told to put on the sweater.
Why does the author include dialogue among Rachel, Mrs. Price, and classmates?
a) To highlight how Rachel feels trapped between voices of authority and peers
b) To show Rachel is always argumentative
c) To lengthen the story unnecessarily
d) To distract from the main events
✅ a) To highlight how Rachel feels trapped between voices of authority and peers
Which evidence supports that Rachel feels powerless against authority?
a) “I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler.”
b) “Phyllis Lopez says she remembers the red sweater is hers.”
c) “Of course it’s yours,’ Mrs. Price says. ‘I remember you wearing it once.’”
d) “Maybe one day when you’re all grown up maybe you will need to cry like if you’re three.”
✅ c) “‘Of course it's yours,’ Mrs. Price says. ‘I remember you wearing it once.’”
How does Rachel’s internal perspective contrast with how others view her?
a) Rachel believes she deserves the sweater, while her classmates disagree.
b) Rachel feels older and confident, while others treat her like an adult.
c) Rachel feels small and overwhelmed, while others see her as overly dramatic.
d) Rachel thinks her birthday is exciting, while Mrs. Price wants to celebrate it with her.
c) Rachel feels small and overwhelmed, while others see her as overly dramatic.
Which narrative technique is used when Rachel imagines throwing the sweater over the fence or leaving it on a parking meter?
a) Flashback
b) Hyperbole
c) Personification
d) Dramatic irony
b) Hyperbole
Which interaction best reinforces the theme of power imbalance between children and adults?
a) Phyllis Lopez turning in her homework late
b) Rachel thinking about her birthday cake
c) Felice Garcia whispering to her friend
d) Mrs. Price ignoring Rachel’s protests about the sweater
d) Mrs. Price ignoring Rachel’s protests about the sweater
What is the effect of comparing Rachel’s feelings to a “tiny o in the sky”?
a) It shows she feels small and wants the day to disappear.
b) It suggests she is proud of how she handled the situation.
c) It explains why she enjoys celebrating her birthday.
d) It highlights how important the sweater is to her identity.
a) It shows she feels small and wants the day to disappear.
Which source would BEST help someone researching how teacher-student misunderstandings affect learning?
a) Personal blogs
b) Comic books about school adventures
c) Advertisements for school supplies
d) Academic journals on classroom communication
d) Academic journals on classroom communication