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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Faunia have to do at her home in order to live without paying rent?

2. To what college does Mr. Silk want his son, Coleman, to go when he is able to go to college?

3. What does Coleman do when he realizes that the woman from the Midwest is someone he wants to be with forever?

4. How old is the woman that Coleman Silk is seeing after his wife's death?

5. A lawyer tells Coleman that if he seeks out a _____________ for Faunia, then everyone will know of his and Faunia's relationship.

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to cause Coleman Silk to have to seek retirement from his job?

2. How does Coleman reveal to Iris his racial background when they are getting married?

3. What does Mr. Silk believe is the most important thing in life, especially for a black man?

4. What does Coleman Silk confess to his neighbor when he is 71 years of age?

5. What happened on the day that Nathan found Coleman in only his shorts?

6. What does the lawyer tell Coleman in regards to the restraining order against Farley?

7. What is the problem with Nathan's health which has changed him forever?

8. What does the doctor offer to Coleman's family in return for the favor they request, though the Silks turn the offer down?

9. What did Coleman do on the day he went to the funeral parlor to make arrangements for a funeral?

10. What does Doc Chizner tell Coleman not to tell the Pitt coach when he is applying for a scholarship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The children in Coleman's family seem to side with everyone else besides their father.

Part 1: Why do you think Coleman's children were so distant from him in the end?

Part 2: Do you think the choice of the funeral at the college chapel was also an attempt to hide their father's true identity? Why or why not?

Part 3: If you were one of Coleman's children, would you be upset with him? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Race is a large part of this story, even when it isn't directly discussed. But race becomes the motivating force behind many decisions.

Part 1: How is race defined within this story by its characters?

Part 2: Is race only a matter of the color of one's skin? Why or why not?

Part 3: If you could change the way you look to others, would you? Would you present yourself as a different race? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Les is an interesting character as he almost seems too "bad" to be believable. His actions are almost predictable - too predictable.

Part 1: Why do you think Lester would have been with a woman like Faunia?

Part 2: Why do you think that Lester couldn't come back and heal himself after Vietnam?

Part 3: Do you think it's realistic that Les murdered Coleman and Faunia? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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