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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 reason does Renard give for wanting to go to war?

2. What does Evelyn feel when she watches her mama comfort Ruby?

3. How many times has T.C. been incarcerated?

4. Who does T.C. visit first when he gets out of prison?

5. Why does Alicia kick T.C. out?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to T.C.'s uncle who went by the name Brother?

2. What is Evelyn's outlook on her pregnancy?

3. Why is Evelyn surprised that her mama is supportive of her pregnancy?

4. What did T.C. do when he lost his scholarship to LSU?

5. Why does Sybil talk so poorly about her clients?

6. What does Evelyn mean when she says the baby will salvage her?

7. Jackie wants time to process things according to her own set of values. What does this mean?

8. What two women does T.C. compare to each other and why?

9. Evelyn's daddy says she has a "low imagination" because she is settling. Why does this upset her?

10. What happens when T.C. goes to visit Bon Bon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Women are a larger part of the workforce in the 1986 story timeline. Write an essay expounding on what Jackie's father, Renard, means when he says that women are mad about not being able to mind their own children.

Essay Topic 2

Evelyn defends Renard when Ruby criticizes him. Write an essay explaining what the following quote means and what it reveals about Evelyn's relationship with her sister, "She thought of the weight of her voice when it came out firm" (3).

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay highlighting the different eras shown through the novel's three timelines. Include how the political movements and social issues affect each of the protagonists and their families.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 618 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample