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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 Papa say about laws?

2. What is the first lesson Mama teaches Mrs. Lee Annie about the constitution?

3. What is the consequence of Papa's decision to quit the government program?

4. What is Papa's other job?

5. What surrounds the town?

Short Essay Questions

1. What revelation does Papa have when he describes Uncle Hammer's reaction to finding Jeremy Sim's photograph?

2. Analyze the reason Mama doesn't want Stacey to work the whitewashing job.

3. Identify events in Chapter 2 that demonstrate why the blacks have no faith in the justice system.

4. Paraphrase the story Cassie tells about how her family came to own their land.

5. Why is it more dangerous for Russell to wear a military uniform when he travels back to Indiana than to wear his civilian clothes?

6. Based on what you have learned up to Chapter 6, what problems would you say Cousin Bud faces because he married a white woman?

7. List reasons why Mama and Big Ma try to talk Mrs. Lee Annie out of voting.

8. How would you interpret Cousin Bud's reason for wanting his daughter to spend time with the Logan family?

9. Explain why Papa feels playing marbles leads to gambling.

10. Describe the reason Cassie defies her father about playing marbles.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the three major themes in the story: family, racism and poverty. How do these subjects relate to one another in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about Jeremy Sims and his relationship with the black children, especially the Logan children. Why does he stand out among the white families? Why is his situation so precarious? Which white adult in the story does he most remind you of?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the unfair treatment of the sharecroppers and day workers in the novel. The following questions must be answered: In what ways were the sharecroppers and day workers mistreated? Who mistreated them? Why were they mistreated?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 813 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample