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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. Which of the following does Shayla offer Isabella?

2. By which of the following does Stacy call Julia?

3. What color are the towels in the Willows family bathroom?

4. Which degree is Shayla’s mother pursuing?

5. With which of the following does Chapter 6: "Tuna & Metal" begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Shayla describe Mr. Levy as the book begins?

2. Why does Shayla note the Monday after Halloween got off to a bad start for her?

3. What reaction does Shayla’s mother have to her dressing up as a Black Panther for Halloween?

4. When Alex is Commanded at lunch, what does he do?

5. Why does Shayla note liking to run?

6. How does Shayla note having met Yolanda?

7. What does Shayla cite as the origin of her friendship with Isabella and Julia?

8. What reason does Shayla give for carrying a purse?

9. What reason does Coach West cite for arranging the preseason meet?

10. Why does Shayla note liking Mrs. Alvarez?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Repeatedly in the novel, the protagonist associates itchy palms with coming troubles. Typically, however, itchy palms indicates financial concerns, often greed for money. What effect does the reframing of the symbolism in the present novel have, and how is it achieved?

Essay Topic 2

The protagonist of the novel is a young Black girl. How might the novel be different were its protagonist a young Black boy? Why might it be different in those ways?

Essay Topic 3

A number of readers cite the following passage as being of importance (41): “Okay, like if you eat unhealthy food a long time, you’re going to be unhealthy, right? Well, for too long people have been fed a diet about Black folks. About folks with brown skin. Making them think we’re scary. And that’s how the police have been trained to act. It’s going to take a long time to change people’s minds.”

Assuming that the passage is important to the novel, how and why is it so?

(see the answer keys)

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