View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is D allowed to do during the day?

2. What did Tupac do while he was in jail?

3. What does the narrator think she read about Albert's namesake?

4. How many sets of twins does Neeka's family have?

5. What did Tupac's shooting cause some people to call him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tupac's death make the narrator think about and what is the rest of the book about?

2. For whom is Albert named and why does the narrator question this choice?

3. Why does Jayjones arrive at the house breathless in Chapter 5?

4. What does Jayjones tell the girls about him and Tupac?

5. Who is D's foster mother, what is she like, and why does D obey her?

6. What does D say looking at Tupac does to her?

7. When does D come back and what happens when the girls begin to jump rope?

8. Who is Neeka's other brother and why do Neeka and the narrator dislike the homophobic rap songs? Where is this brother?

9. What do the narrator and Neeka hear on the news about Tupac in Chapter 7 and how do the girls react? What does the narrator's mother say about it?

10. What does D say is the reason she loves Tupac and how do the narrator and Neeka feel about what she says?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tupac's mother was in jail when she was pregnant with Tupac, arrested for being a member of the militant group the Black Panthers. The girls all admire the fact that Tupac loves his mother very much, despite some fights they have. D says looking at Tupac is like looking in the mirror, and that when he sings about his mother, it's like he's singing about D's real mother, whom she does not know.

1. What issues do you think are involved with women who are pregnant and in prison? Use examples from the book and your own opinion to support your answer.

2. D says looking at Tupac is like looking in the mirror, and that when he sings about his mother, it's like he's singing about D's real mother, whom she does not know. Discuss in detail what you think this statement means. Use examples from the book and your own opinion to support your answer.

3. The girls all admire the fact that Tupac loves his mother very much, despite some fights they have. Why do you think the girls believe Tupac loves his mother? Discuss the problem of a famous person's public face and his/her private face? Do you think they are different? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Miss Irene mildly objects to her son Tash's "fabulous" and outrageously effeminate behavior, wishing to spare her younger children from his influence. Tash only wishes to be who is he is and not hide. This creates a moment of tension in the narrative. But in the end, Miss Irene's love for her son overcomes her objections. Tash's injustice is borne more from homophobia than racism, providing another dimension to the discussion of discrimination.

1. Do you think Tash's behavior influences his younger brothers and sister? Why or why not? Use examples from After Tupac and D Foster to illustrate and support your answer.

2. Discuss your agreement with one of the following statements, using examples from the book to support your discussion:

Tash behaving as he does indicates he is emotionally and mentally healthy for accepting himself as he is.

Tash behaving as he does is inconsiderate of his mother's feelings and a negative example for his younger siblings.

3. Discuss the mental and emotional effects on a person who has to hide who he/she is. Use examples from After Tupac and D Foster to illustrate and support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Tupac's shooting forced some to dismiss Tupac as a mere "gangster" who was a bad influence on black youth. The narrator saw him as a survivor and a hero. Even when Tupac was jailed and released an album from jail, the narrator admired him for his irrepressible spirit.

1. Why do you think the three girls see Tupac as a hero? Use examples from the book and your own opinion to support your answer.

2. Do you think the lyrics to music can be a bad influence on young people? Why or why not? Use examples from the book and your own opinion to support your answer.

3. Discuss, in your opinion, how the bill or rights which guarantees free speech applies to songs. Use examples from the book and your own opinion to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,322 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample