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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. Why, in Chapter 4, is the men's workday canceled?

2. What dong does Hurston sing at the Pine Mill?

3. What do people hide behind at a "toe party"?

4. Why did the man pull the sheet over his head every night in the story in Chapter 4?

5. In Chapter 4, what does Hurston initially think of the people in the city where she stops?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the story Jim Presley tells Hurston. How are black men better then white men in this story?

2. Describe the story John French tells in Chapter 3.

3. Why do you think there are debates over which folktales are true or which version is the "correct" one?

4. Where does Hurston arrive at the start of the book, and what is her purpose for traveling there?

5. Why is it significant that a woman listens to the devil's advice in Mathilda Mosley's story?

6. What happens in Chapter 8 on the way to the "jook joint"?

7. Describe the differences between the two slaves' actions in Joe Wiley's story.

8. Why is Hurston interested in learning about folktales?

9. Describe the interaction between Hurston and Mr. Pitts.

10. What is the significance of the stories Hurston hears about the slave outsmarting the master or black men outsmarting white men?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was Hurston's purpose in writing this book? Did she achieve this purpose? What does the reader learn from this book?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Marie Leveau's impact on Hoodoo. Why do practitioners of Hoodoo claim her as an inspiration?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Hurston's experience at the Everglades Cypress Lumber Company. Describe two important people she meets here and why they are important to her book.

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