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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. What does Sue tell Johnny-Boy about Reva?

2. How does Johnny-Boy feel when his mother keeps talking at him?

3. What does Sue feel in her face?

4. What is Sue doing when she realizes someone is in her house?

5. With what does the Sheriff again threaten Sue?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Reva feel about Sue's answers to her questions?

2. How does Sue respond to Johnny-Boy's defense?

3. What does Booker do when Sue recognizes him?

4. What does Sue tell Johnny-Boy about Reva?

5. What happens as Sue rises to her feet?

6. How does Sue reply when the men ask her why she is there?

7. How do the other men with the sheriff respond to what she says to him?

8. What happens with Sue soon after the sheriff left?

9. What does Sue do with the gun and where does she go? What does she see as she approaches?

10. What opinion does Sue express to her son about his work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

We see another example of the conflict that has existed within Sue during this entire story as she once again reaches out to her Christian faith to help her complete this one last act in the name of the Communist Party.

1. Why do you think communism and Christianity are mutually exclusive?

2. Why do you think most communist governments try to repress religion?

3. What do you think is the reason Sue falls back on her Christian faith even though she doesn't seem to believe in it anymore?

Essay Topic 2

Another character we meet in this section is a young woman named Reva. We don't learn very much about her here or in the rest of the story, only that she is white and in love with Johnny-Boy.

1. How do you think a relationship between a African American man and white woman would have caused problems in the era in which this story takes place?

2. Do you think that inter-racial relationships are more accepted today than when this story took place? Why or why not?

3. With some research find a true incident in history of a African American man and white woman marriage and what happened in their lives.

Essay Topic 3

When Sue wakes up with the realization that someone is in her house she goes to the kitchen. The sheriff approaches and tells Sue that he is there to help her.

1. Given the era and setting of this story do you think it is likely the sheriff is telling the truth? Why or why not? Use examples from the story to support your answer.

2. Do you think that most officers of the law are honest, good people? Why or why not? Use examples from your life or knowledge to support your answer.

3. If you woke in the middle of the night and people were in your house, what would you do? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 743 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample