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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 the name of John's wife?

2. What do Jeff and Ann do after Jeff comes home?

3. What does the author imply is lacking in black communities?

4. What does Jeff do when he enters the house?

5. What had Dudley been doing out of the country?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the reactions of Mattie and Grandma when Jeff announces his plans to marry Ann.

2. Explain the source of John's deep regret in his life. How does Mattie respond to what he says?

3. What does John ask Dudley for when he abruptly changes the subject?

4. What is revealed about what was heard on the phone lines in the plan to catch the informant?

5. How does the author reveal the nature of the relationship between John and Dudley?

6. What is the first mention that indicates that Mattie is ill?

7. Why does the author use the theme of black male figures in the story?

8. Why does Dudley decide to tell John about Mattie's health?

9. Who is Jeff and what is his anticipated entry into the story?

10. Why does Ann volunteer to help with the plan to identify the gang's stool pigeon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Jeff, Ann and Dudley. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, socialization, etc.

Essay Topic 2

The setting of the book is Harlem in New York City in America during recessionary times. Explain how this affected people in America overall. Then drill down to explain how people in Harlem were affected. What impact did financial situations have on the lives and outlooks of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Ann. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her--if anything--at this point in her life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 918 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample