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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. Who stops Socrates on the way back from dinner?

2. Why did Charles Rinnett do to Socrates?

3. What is the name of the black man with a beard?

4. What does Benny tell the guard Socrates was showing Peters?

5. What does Socrates try to set alight?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Socrates think that Ponzelle started the fire?

2. Why does Roland not like Socrates?

3. What does Socrates dream about his mother at the end of the chapter?

4. What does Theresa's mother say in her letter to Socrates?

5. What do Socrates and Right do at Dilley's

6. What does Socrates tell Shreve in the cafe?

7. Why did Socrates break the driver's nose?

8. What does Socrates think about the dog paw prints around him when he wakes up on the beach?

9. Summarize the novel.

10. Why does Socrates stay at home during the riots?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1990s? How does Mosley express these concerns?

2) How would Mosley change the novel if it were set in today's society?

Essay Topic 2

Pick a character from the novel and discuss the goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following and discuss how it affects the tone of the novel and helps to express character and theme:

1) Setting

2) Point of view

3) Structure

4) Language

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 583 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample