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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Garth seem to have died of?
(a) Stabbing.
(b) Suicide.
(c) AIDS.
(d) Poisoning.

3. Who were Michael Dukes and Cecil Rice?
(a) Friends of Robby's who were hiding him.
(b) John's mother's friends.
(c) The men Robby killed.
(d) Robby's partners in crime.

4. What does John say Garth's death represents for Robby?
(a) The end of faith.
(b) A commitment to hostility toward the prison.
(c) An awakening.
(d) A new beginning.

5. What does John say Jamila is obsessed with?
(a) Graveyards.
(b) Prisons.
(c) Trains.
(d) Highways.

6. Who calls John at the beginning of the book?
(a) His mother.
(b) Robby.
(c) Michael Dukes.
(d) His sister-in-law.

7. What does John say his mother lost when Robby declined into crime?
(a) Her faith in God.
(b) Her patience with the racism of the system.
(c) Her affection for her children.
(d) Her forgiving nature.

8. How does John say the guests are treated while they're at the prison?
(a) As prisoners.
(b) As trash.
(c) As fellow wardens.
(d) As VIPs.

9. What emotions does John say he feels from the prisoners?
(a) Rage.
(b) Guilt.
(c) Paranoia.
(d) Lust.

10. What news does John get at the beginning of the book?
(a) His brother has shown up at his mother's house.
(b) His brother has murdered a man.
(c) His brother has just finished school.
(d) His brother has received a life sentence.

11. How does John characterize the difference between his mother and father?
(a) His father was black, his mother was from the Caribbean.
(b) His mother was from the South while his father was from out West.
(c) His father was dark black while his mother's family was light.
(d) His father was from the South while his mother was a northerner.

12. What is "Brothers and Keepers" centered on?
(a) John's attempts to distance himself from his family.
(b) The history of Wideman's family.
(c) Robby's trial for murder.
(d) The relationship between John and Robby.

13. What does John say he sees in himself by looking at the prisoners?
(a) Guilt.
(b) Shame.
(c) Lust.
(d) Evil.

14. What Catch-22 was John caught in?
(a) He was expected to be black and also to fit in seamlessly.
(b) He was expected to be a rebel and also a conformist.
(c) He was expected to be smart and also anti-intellectual.
(d) He was expected to have money, but he was expected not to work.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the exception to this rule?

2. Why does Jamila think Robby should be out of prison?

3. What does John say it is dangerous to drive through the Homewood Avenue district?

4. What does John say he and his family see when they drive up?

5. What does John notice about the prisoners?

(see the answer keys)

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