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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 is Jesse Mae wearing that causes a sensation among the women?

2. After Humphrey falls asleep on the couch, what falls out of his pocket?

3. What toy does Madeleine bring with her as Maddie drags the children out of the house?

4. What is Mildred following through the city?

5. In "The Store", how much does the protagonist make in a week working at the store?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how Santiago makes money.

2. In "An Orange Line Train to Ballston", describe the opening of the story.

3. Discuss the way the dreadlock man responds to Marvella's children.

4. Discuss the infighting that occurs amongst the Gospelteers.

5. Explain why the judge tells Samuel Williams Sr.'s lawyer that he cannot defend a man who will not defend himself.

6. What does the protagonist of "The Store" do when Penny decides to sell the store?

7. How does the protagonist of "The Store" garner promotion within the store?

8. How do the Gospelteers respond to the fire at the church?

9. How does Samuel Jr. react when he learns that his sister has kept contact with their father over the years?

10. In "The Store", how does the protagonist begin his employment at the grocery store?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the way in which the stories of "Lost in the City" comment on the role of aspirations and the "American Dream" within the African-American community. Using 3-4 of the stories in the collection, discuss the means through which the characters attempt to improve their socioeconomic status. Are these means within or outside of the established system? Do these strategies effective uplift members of the community? Why or why not? What is Jones' message about attempts to reach economic or social prosperity?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the collection, Jones presents a fairly nuanced portrayal of gender roles in the African-American community of Washington, D.C. Select at least 3 short stories from the collection and discuss the ways in which the characters in these stories respond to the roles imposed on them based on their gender. Do these characters conform or rebel? What do we learn about them based on their compliance or defiance? What might Jones' message regarding gender roles be?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Jones' commentary on the Social Security system in "Marie." How does his creation of the character Marie and his account of her troubles comment on the state of Social Security in the nation? Which details of Marie's story most strongly support Jones'scommentary? Why does he craft Marie the way he does? What is he saying about the way the country treats the elderly?

(see the answer keys)

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