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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 had been on the stand longer than any other London cab driver?

2. What did Jerry nickname the coster-boy who had a great relationship with his horse?

3. Who or what did Black Beauty compare Jerry Barker to?

4. Black Beauty said that if he had to name a fault of Ginger’s, what would it be?

5. What was wrong with Black Beauty’s feet in Chapter 31?

Short Essay Questions

1. What characteristics made Wright a “Real Gentleman,” as the chapter title and Jerry call him?

2. How is ‘the power of polite words’ demonstrated in Chapter 46?

3. Black Beauty uses heavy sarcasm in Chapter 29. What is he describing and why might he be using sarcasm?

4. What did Jerry do in Chapter 37 to show that he had real consideration for Black Beauty?

5. How did the way Jerry lived his life and treated people work toward his benefit in Chapter 45?

6. What thoughts on Liberty did Jerry share with Harry in Chapter 42?

7. What personal belief did Jerry share in Chapter 36?

8. What clues told Ned and Robert right away that something was off with Reuben when they found Reuben and Black Beauty?

9. What hint is there in Chapter 43 that Jerry’s kind nature was finally doling him back some good fortune?

10. How could Black Beauty’s good temperament be seen as a sort of detriment at this point in this life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each horse Black Beauty meets has a name; the inspiration for some names is obvious, while others are more thought provoking. What do the names of the different horses – including the various names Black Beauty is given throughout the novel – tell readers about the horse and/or its owner? Do the horse’s names symbolize anything?

Essay Topic 2

Black Beauty was written more than 100 years ago, yet it is still a popular story today, read by millions. What elements make Black Beauty timeless? What themes in it are still relevant today?

Essay Topic 3

Black Beauty is organized into parts and titled chapters. Why might the book be organized the way it is? Did you find the organization of the book helpful; why or why not?

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