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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 does LaJoe hope that Dawn is successful?

2. Who is the one person with whom Pharoah is comfortable?

3. Why can LaJoe not defend herself well against the accusations?

4. What type of person is Rickey?

5. Why does Pharoah love school?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why LaJoe believes Terrence is innocent when she visits him in Cook County Jail.

2. When Lafeyette is caught shoplifting, how does LaJoe react?

3. What is the contrast between the murders in an affluent school and the shooting of Alonzo at Horner?

4. How are Dawn and Demetrius singled out and publicized?

5. Describe the emotions of the project boys and the train passengers as a train passes while the boys search for snakes.

6. Point out the contradictions in the character of Jimmie Lee.

7. Mention something about the character of Craig Davis.

8. How is the character of Pharoah developed in the story by how he cannot lie to LaJoe?

9. How do the boys sometimes make money?

10. Explain the obsession Calvin Robinson has that Lafeyette finds interesting.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the exploitation of children. Begin with the need for Lafeyette to grow old before his time. Expand that theme to child soldiers and sweatshop laborers. Discuss how and why this exploitation happens to children all over the world.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay entitled "Society's Forgotten People." In addition to the example of the Rivers family, mention other groups of people our society fails. In the essay, discuss how people are measured by the amount of material things they possess and the money they have in the bank and in investments.

Essay Topic 3

Write a critique of THERE ARE NO CHILDREN HERE. Discuss such things as the objectivity of the author, the examples he uses in the book, and what you think his purpose was in writing the book. Be sure to include your evaluation of the value in reading the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 901 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample