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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does John say he tries to treat the prisoners?
(a) As objects.
(b) As dangerous animals.
(c) As people.
(d) As machines.

2. Why did John's father move to Pittsburgh?
(a) He was joining some family members there.
(b) Employment in mining.
(c) To follow his wife's family.
(d) It was where his car broke down.

3. How does John characterize the waiting room?
(a) Ugly and dirty.
(b) Modern and sterile.
(c) Disorienting and confusing.
(d) Warm and cozy.

4. What was funny about John's trip to Maine with Robby?
(a) John translating white music into black music.
(b) Robby singing black music.
(c) Robby explaining where white music took from black musicians.
(d) Judy singing old Perry Como tunes.

5. Where did John go to school?
(a) Penn State.
(b) UPenn.
(c) Cornell.
(d) Harvard.

6. What does John say commenced after Garth's death?
(a) Robby's desire to be a father.
(b) Robby's reawakening to religion and spirituality.
(c) Robby's determination to appeal his conviction.
(d) Robby's decline into drugs and crime.

7. Where does John pick Robby up?
(a) A truck stop.
(b) A diner.
(c) A bowling alley.
(d) A laundromat.

8. John says that the prisoners are like him except for what?
(a) They are unlucky.
(b) They are bad.
(c) They are illiterate.
(d) They are poor.

9. How many years separate John and Robby?
(a) 10.
(b) 6.
(c) 8.
(d) 5.

10. What kinds of places did Robby NOT frequent?
(a) Gym.
(b) Poolroom.
(c) Girl's houses.
(d) Hang out corners.

11. What was Robby's personality as a child?
(a) He was easy-going and duplicitous.
(b) He always wanted to have fun.
(c) He was the loner in the family.
(d) He was introspective and moody.

12. Why was Robby expelled from school?
(a) For stealing.
(b) For talking about black power.
(c) For beating up a cop.
(d) For beating a student.

13. What does John say he does not like about the visit?
(a) The bureaucratic hassles.
(b) The guards' indifference to them.
(c) That it seems normal to visit a relative in prison.
(d) That they are more free than Robby even while they are there.

14. What can't a prisoner do, no matter what?
(a) Run.
(b) Breathe free.
(c) Kill time.
(d) Speak freely.

15. Why does Jamila think Robby should be out of prison?
(a) Because he is her uncle.
(b) Because he eats apples.
(c) Because he was wrongly imprisoned.
(d) Because he wants to be.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did Robby's murder/robbery take place?

2. Who is Jake?

3. How does John characterize Western State Penitentiary?

4. How does John say he and his children and Robby act during their visit?

5. What caused the prison revolt in 1980?

(see the answer keys)

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