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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. When Betsey falls asleep outside, who is playing basketball when she wakes up?

2. Where is Betsey's hiding place located?

3. Who does Eugene want to visit the most at the Brown household?

4. What is the name of Greer's patient's granddaughter?

5. Who is the first person to address Betsey on her first day at her new school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Jane's reaction to Bernice appearing?

2. How does Betsey feel about school integration?

3. Describe Susan Linda and her home.

4. What interests Betsey the most about Regina?

5. What does Mrs. Maureen say about segregation, and what do her beliefs represent?

6. What does Carrie convince Betsey to do?

7. What makes Betsey feel good about herself?

8. How does Veejay make Betsey feel bad about getting rid of Bernice?

9. How is it demonstrated that Betsey's childhood is falling away?

10. Why does Betsey feel that her runaway name should be Cora Sue Betsey Anne Calhoun Brown? Where does she get this name?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story there are several references to musicians, poets, and other elements of culture for the time period. What effect do these elements have? Why do you think the author chose to include these references?

Essay Topic 2

In what way do some of the events in the Brown household parallel actual events in the 1950's and 1960's? Look at school segregation, for example. What occurs in Betsey's home that represents the segregation occurring in reality? Why do you think the author chose to represent these historical events in this way?

Essay Topic 3

The Brown family home is extremely chaotic. How is this represented in the author's work? Analyze the plot of the story as well as Shange's diction, syntax, tone, and point of view and the ways in which they apply to the overall theme of chaos. What effect does chaos have on the reader?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 779 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample