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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. With which of the following does Chapter 56: "Lonely Island" begin?

2. In what leg of the relay does Shayla run?

3. Which of the following does Isabella jokingly suggests Shayla should pursue?

4. To which of the following is Bernard compared?

5. With what does the main text of the novel conclude?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reasons does Julia give for demurring from wearing a black armband when Shayla offers her one?

2. What reason does Bernard give for having defended Alex?

3. What does Shayla note wanting for Christmas (194)?

4. How does Shayla’s track team commemorate its victory?

5. Why does Isabella rebuke Shayla for thinking she would engage with Jace?

6. What comment prompts Shayla to violence?

7. Why does Shayla tell Bernard to take off his improvised armband?

8. How does Shayla describe the starting position enforced by using blocks on the track?

9. For what reason is Shayla made to apologize to Principal Trask?

10. Why does Shayla muse on missing visiting Julia’s grandmother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explicate the significance of the protagonist’s family name.

Essay Topic 2

In the acknowledgements, the author cites sensitivity readers, noting in regards to the former that “Any mistakes with cultural representation are mine and mine alone”; she also cites an informant on “middle school lingo,” Jazz, and remarks “but if I got any of that wrong, it is totally my fault” (360). What purpose is served by the author doing so, and how is it served?

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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