Name: __________________
Names/Nombres Review Guide
Test will be March 2, 2016
Part 1
1. What is the overall theme of Names/Nombres by Julia Alvarez?
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2. What is the main conflict in Names/Nombres?
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3. In Julia Alvarez’s interview she reveals she was also a dedicated:
Musician
teacher
scientist
4. According to the story Names/Nombres Julia’s nicknames at school show that her classmates:
Ignore Julia
Dislike Julia
Like and Accept Julia
5. In Names/Nombres Julia Alvarez mentions a shift in attitude toward “ethnicity” in the United
States during the 1960s. She suggests the change made Americans more accepting of
Blond, blue-eyed Americans
people from Bermuda
girls who wore bobby socks
6. Why does Julia Alvarez use Spanish words and phrases in her essay?
a. She believes they make her writing colorful and informal.
b. She believes she will please her Spanish-speaking readers.
7. In Names/Nombres the graduation gift of a typewriter Julia receives shows that:
Her parents want her to have something useful
Her parents know she will share it with her sister
Her parents are encouraging her interest in writing
Part 2:
True or False: Please determine if the following statements are true or false. If it is false, please correct
the statement and make it accurate.
1. True or False: In the beginning of the story Julia Alvarez and her Family arrive in Chicago.
2.True or False: The climax of the story is when Julia begins to have nicknames at school and becomes
very popular.
3.True or False: The theme of the story is to correct people when they say your name wrong.
4.True or False: The conflict of the story is Julia’s struggle to accept her Dominican heritage and fit in to
the new American culture.
5.True or False: Julia’s sister also has a variety of nicknames from Maudy to Maureen, but her actual
name is Mauricia.
6. True or False: Julia feels overwhelmed and anxious when her extended family comes to attend her
graduation.
7. True or False: In Julia Alvarez’s interview she discusses the topic of building walls to keep others out.
8. True or False: Julia Alvarez did not enjoy reading books in her early years because she though they
were boring.
9. True or False: Julia Alvarez is from Mexico which is located near Bermuda.
10.True or False: The word chaotic refers to a calm and peaceful feeling.
Part 3
1. To best describe Julia Alvarez’s family in Names/Nombres is:
Small and argumentative
small, distant, and cold
large, close and caring
2. Complete the chart to show how many names Julia Alvarez discusses in Name/Nombres.
Julia
3. Now that you have completed the chart, please discuss how the many nicknames connect to the
theme of the story.
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4. Which statement is an opinion from Names and Nombres?
a.Julia Alvarez immigrated from the Dominican Republic.
b. Alvarez and her mother have the same first name.
c. Mauricia is a difficult name to transport across borders.
5. What is the definition for the vocabulary word transport?
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6. What is the definition for chaotic?
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7. Why does the writer of Names/Nombres choose to go by Julia Alvarez as an adult?
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8. What is a synonym for the vocabulary word inevitably?
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9. Which statement is a fact from Names/Nombres?
a. Names sound more beautiful in Spanish than they do in English.
b. We think life in New York is much better than in the Dominican.
c. At Julia’s Graduation she had sancocho and store bought pudin.