The Color of My Words

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

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following words best describes Mami’s attitude when Ana admits her desire to be an author?

A) Ashamed

B) Hesitant

C) Enthusiastic

D) Apathetic

2. In Chapter 1, Mami says to Ana, “You are this river, Ana Rosa, […] [b]ut you must flow softly around the rocks on the way to meet the sea.” Which of the following literary devices does Mami use in this quote?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor

C) Personification

D) Allusion

3. Which of the following words best describes the reaction of Ana Rosa’s community after listening to her recitation of her story about the monster?

A) Appalled

B) Concerned

C) Apprehensive

D) Jubilant

4. In the poem entitled “Merengue Dream,” which of the following literary devices is consistently used in lines 1 and 2 of stanzas 1-3?

A) Allegory

B) Allusion

C) Analogy

D) Anaphora

5. How does Guario differ from his family?

A) He chooses to think about the future, while his family opts to live with a focus on the present.

B) He is the only one who supports Ana Rosa’s writing ambition, while all others scoff at her dreams.

C) He is the most politically involved in the neighborhood, while his family members are totally apathetic to the government regime.

D) He is the only unemployed member, while other family members work multiple jobs to make ends meet.

6. Which of the following phrases best summarizes Papi’s character?

A) A hardworking entrepreneur

B) An alcoholic dreamer and dancer

C) A studious government official

D) An abusive father and husband

7. Which of the following phrases best describes the style of the poem “My Brother’s Friend”?

A) A structured sonnet

B) A heartfelt haiku

C) A free-form prose

D) A typical Dominican ballad

8. In the poem “One Sunday,” which literary device does Ana Rosa use in order to illustrate the storm?

A) Personification

B) Anaphora

C) Simile

D) Analogy

9. Which of the following phrases best describes how Mr. Moreno’s announcement affects Ana Rosa’s neighborhood?

A) Unifies the community

B) Depresses the adults

C) Sparks joy in the children

D) Pleases the patriarchs

10. Which of the following sentences best summarizes Guario’s belief in the power of words by the end of the novel?

A) Words are not powerful and should not be focused on.

B) Words are essential for dismantling political institutions.

C) Words falter compared to the actions of people.

D) Words are hopeful but ultimately lead to damage.    

11. Which of the following words best describes Ana Rosa’s relationship with her brother?

A) Strained

B) Indifferent

C) Competitive

D) Tender

12. What previous poem has a rhyming pattern to match Chapter 8’s poem “The Color of My Words” (ABCB)?

A) “The Gri Gri Tree”

B) “My Brother’s Friend”

C) “One Sunday”

D) “The Colors of Power”

13. Which of the following phrases best describes the structure of the novel?

A) A collection of vignettes that center on Ana Rosa’s life in the Dominican Republic

B) An exposé on the challenges of a poor family in Havana

C) A nonfiction account of the horrors of the Dominican Republic dictatorial regime

D) A summary of poetry related to poverty and coming-of-age in the Caribbean

Long Answer

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

1. Who is the narrator of the novel, and what is the narration style? Why is it effective in conveying the passions of the characters?

2. Examine which types of literary devices are used most throughout the novel itself, excluding Ana’s poems. Identify three uses of literary terms, quoting, labeling, and citing them.