Anna in the Tropics Quizzes

Anna in the Tropics Quiz 1

1 Why was Nilo Cruz's father imprisoned when Nilo was a boy?
For attacking a Communist in the middle of Havana

Because of his resistance to Cuba's increased militarization

For attempting to help others flee Communist Cuba

For failing to show up to his work as a shoemaker
2 Cruz's birthplace of Matanzas is well known as a center of ___.
sportsmanship

the arts

technology

agriculture
3 An early role model and mentor for Cruz was ___.
Eduardo Machado

Harriet Sohmers Zwerling

Susan Sontag

Maria Irene Fornés
4 Anna in the Tropics was notable in winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
Cruz was the first Latino writer to win the prize.

Prior to its win, the play had never shown in New York.

Cruz beat out seasoned playwrights like Edward Albee to win the prize.

The play was the first intertextual play to win the prize.
5 Cruz often compares the experience of being a writer to that of being ___.
a parent

a prisoner

an exile

a teacher
6 Cruz's fascination with cigars dates back to ___.
his adult life, when he found out that his ancestors worked in cigar factories

his childhood, when he was surrounded by the artistic and exotic imagery of cigar boxes

his adolescence, when he fell in love with a roller at a cigar factory

his early adulthood, when he briefly worked as a lector at a cigar factory
7 In the context of the cigar factory, the job of the lector was ___.
to garner support abroad for the cause of Cuban independence

to read the workers literature and news, to keep them abreast of world and cultural trends

to cooperate with unions and represent their interests to factory owners

to make sure that worker productivity did not fall below a set point
8 One notable lector who fascinated Cruz was ___.
Heberto Padilla

Fidel Castro

José Martí

Alejo Carpentier
9 While writing "Anna in the Tropics," why did Cruz abandon his initial historical setting for the play?
He was intimidated by the social problems that plagued the Cuban-American community of this time.

He worried that all of the historical data in such a play would dwarf the intimate human drama of the project.

He thought that setting the play in the original timeframe would require too much research of him.

He was reluctant to dishonor the historical figures who lived during this time.
10 Why did Cruz eventually choose to set the play in 1929?
It was during this period that cigar production scaled to its most immense levels in history.

It was at this time that Cuban Americans started a major push towards civil rights.

This was the time period in which government policy conflicted with cigar production most strongly.

It was at this time that the lector tradition started to fade in favor of mechanization.
11 Cruz was originally going to have his characters read ___ instead of "Anna Karenina."
Zola's "Nana"

Hugo's "Les Miserables"

Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment"

Goethe's "Faust"
12 The fact that the play opens at a cockfight is representative of what?
Cheché's animalistic anger over losing his wife

The chicken-like attitude Santiago takes to confronting his half-brother

The excessive masculinity and machismo that define many of the play's male characters

The impending fight between Santiago and Ofelia over his gambling debts
13 What is something unconventional about the hiring of Juan Julian?
It was done by Ofelia, rather than Santiago.

It was done by Marela, rather than Ofelia.

It was done by Santiago, rather than the workers.

It was done by Ofelia, rather than the workers.
14 As of Act 1, Scene 1, what do we know about the fate of the last lector who worked for the Alcalars?
We know only that he "didn't last," but we only find out why later on.

We know that he died of old age.

We know that he got in an argument with Palomo.

We know that he seduced Ofelia.
15 When Santiago runs out of money at the cockfight, how does he get more money from Cheché?
He carves a "contract" into the sole of Cheché's shoe, promising to pay him back.

He tells Cheché that he will let him marry Marela.

He promises to give Cheché a gamecock of his own.

He promises Cheché that he will fire any lectors who join the factory.
16 Why do Ofelia and Conchita chastise Marela at the harbor?
She has sent for a different lector than the one desired by Ofelia.

She has already announced her intention to marry the lector, no matter what he looks like.

She put Juan Julian's name in a glass of water with sugar and cinnamon, putting a kind of folk spell on him to "sweeten" his journey.

She left town to look up the lector who is about to arrive.
17 What do Ofelia and Conchita say happened to the local witch Rosario?
After inadvertently killing her lover with a spell, she ran to the sea naked each night, possessed by a fever.

After putting a curse on the local crops, her community ostracized her and had her killed.

After putting a curse on the local crops, her community died out in a famine.

After inadvertently killing her lover with a spell, she moved to Spain and was never seen again.
18 What is Santiago's final wager with Cheché at the cockfight?
If he fails to pay Cheché back, he will give him a large share in the factory.

If he fails to pay Cheché back, he will pay for his trip to Cuba.

If he fails to pay Cheché back, he will give Cheché a year's worth of cigars.

If he fails to pay Cheché back, he will leave town.
19 The fact that Cheché refuses to put his shoe back on is symbolic of ___.
the fact that Cheché is attempting to restrict Santiago's economic mobility

the lack of trust between Santiago and Cheché

the fact that Cheché is a neat freak

the fact that Cheché, like Cruz himself, is the son of a shoemaker
20 How does Marela embarrass herself at the harbor in front of Juan Julian?
She slips and falls in the harbor.

She gets tongue-tied while talking.

She wets herself in front of everyone.

She has a wardrobe malfunction.
21 How does Cheché act towards Juan Julian at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 2?
He acts coldly towards him and tries to dismiss him.

He welcomes him to the factory with open arms.

He tries to intimidate him with a physical threat.

He tries and fails to relate to him.
22 What is the relationship between Cheché and Santiago?
They are half-brothers.

They are former company mates from the war.

They are uncle and nephew.

They are cousins.
23 What is behind Cheché's dislike for lectors?
He was once shot by a lector in Cuba.

His former wife, Mildred, ran off with the factory's last lector.

His mother eloped with a lector, leaving his father.

He is from the North, where the lector tradition is frowned upon.
24 What does Juan Julian say when asked how he likes Tampa?
He says that it is far flatter and more expansive than Cuba, and that it doesn't seem like one can hide there.

He says that the weather is far better than in Cuba, but that the cities are far less developed.

He says that the weather is worse than in Cuba, but that the standard of living is much higher.

He says that he thinks the city is a bit boring, but nice overall.
25 According to the Alcalar women, what is the most difficult type of light to hide from or escape?
Light that penetrates through cracks

The light of fires

The type that reflects off of the skin

The light of stars

What are the literary elements used in the whole story?

Below you will find literary elements cited in GradeSaver's study guide for this unit. Check out the study guide for additional examples.

Cologne as Smoke (Simile)
In Act 1, Scene 3, after Juan Julian reads a selection from Anna Karenina, the...

Asked by Eyy A #1357300

Answered by jill d #170087 on 4/14/2025 7:02 PM

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Which character is the most impactful in the drama?

How does the theme of the drama influence the story?

I might consider Love and Intimacy. Since a great deal of Anna in the Tropics revolves around romantic and interpersonal relationships, love and intimacy is also a theme that occupies a central...

Asked by Hera

Answered by Aslan on 1/28/2022 2:57 AM

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Anna in the Tropics

In my opinion, Cheché, as he is such an important part of moving the plot forward and antagonizing the other characters.

Asked by Charlotte D #1208931

Answered by jill d #170087 on 1/26/2022 5:59 PM

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Anna in the Tropics

by Nilo Cruz

Anna in the Tropics Quiz 1

Anna in the Tropics Questions and Answers

Study Guide for Anna in the Tropics

Lesson Plan for Anna in the Tropics

Wikipedia Entries for Anna in the Tropics