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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the "one-drop" rule?
(a) Having one black parent (or ancestor) makes a person black.
(b) Having one white parent (or ancestor) entitles a person to be white.
(c) One drop of violence ruins a peaceful gathering.
(d) One drop of liquor makes an alcoholic.

2. Whom does the author describe as his "wedding ring"?
(a) His soul.
(b) His son.
(c) His wife.
(d) God.

3. According to the author, who controls the streets of Baltimore?
(a) The police.
(b) The students.
(c) The parents.
(d) The crews.

4. What sense does the author describe experiencing as he watched television as a child?
(a) Injustice.
(b) Confusion.
(c) Hope.
(d) Jealousy.

5. According to the author, navigating the streets of Baltimore is like a:
(a) Battlefield.
(b) Playground.
(c) Warzone.
(d) Series of trick questions.

6. What is "The Mecca" that the author describes to his son?
(a) His father's collection of books.
(b) The culture of the student body at Howard University.
(c) His poetry notebook.
(d) His mother's collection of vintage vinyl.

7. What does the author describe as the "enemy of art, courageous thinking and honest writing"?
(a) Science.
(b) The Dream.
(c) Religion.
(d) Public education.

8. What hobby did the author pursue while at Howard University?
(a) Poker.
(b) Poetry.
(c) Music.
(d) Bowling.

9. What is PG County?
(a) Price Goldwin County, MA.
(b) Prince George's County, MD.
(c) Princeton-Gordon County, Washington, DC.
(d) A poet from Long Island.

10. How old was Tamir Rice when he was shot?
(a) 12.
(b) Six.
(c) 21.
(d) Two.

11. For whom was the author's son named?
(a) Malcom X.
(b) Robert Hayden.
(c) Martin Luther King.
(d) Samori Touré.

12. What did the author find unique about Howard University?
(a) All the students were black, but distinctly unique in culture.
(b) The professors spent time outside with the students.
(c) All the students were wealthy, regardless of race.
(d) Everyone was treated as an equal, regardless of race.

13. According to the author, America believes itself to be:
(a) Exceptional.
(b) Pure.
(c) Peaceful.
(d) Understanding.

14. How did the author's father react when the author threatened his 9th grade teacher?
(a) His father confronted the teacher.
(b) His father beat him.
(c) His father called the police.
(d) His father confronted the principal.

15. What realization did the author make about death in the sixth grade?
(a) Death does not wait.
(b) Death chases after the living.
(c) Death can occur without warning.
(d) Death is inevitable.

Short Answer Questions

1. Coats explains that the young men who walk the streets of Baltimore loud and rude do so because:

2. Coats quotes that sixty percent of all young black men who drop out of high school will:

3. To whom is the memoir addressed?

4. What difference does the author see between his childhood and that of his son?

5. What has been the prevalent emotion in the author's life?

(see the answer keys)

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