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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 is not in the audience at Selina's dance recital?

2. What changes in Selina's physical appearance are based on her grief over her father's death?

3. In Book 4, which of the following does Selina notice when comparing herself to the other girls at the party?

4. What does Selina tell Silla when she confronts her about the Association scholarship?

5. What does Selina do when Clive is not available to comfort her following her run-in with Mrs. Benton?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Selina's manner of dress following her father's death reflect her inner emotional state?

2. Why is Silla upset with Deighton's adoration of Father Peace?

3. Why does Clive warn Selina against joining the Modern Dance Club?

4. In Book 3, Chapters 8-10, what is the basis that Silla relies on to blame Deighton for the death of their son?

5. Why does Selina seclude herself and refuse to go out following her father's death?

6. Does Selina's experience with the Modern Dance Club reinforce Clive's belief that the White people who belong to it are racists?

7. Why does Selina call her mother "Hitler"?

8. What does Clive's relationship with his mother teach Selina about her own relationship with her mother?

9. What does Selina think about the Association?

10. Why does Miss Thompson tell Selina the story of how her foot became ulcerated?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Selina's coming of age story to any other literary coming of age story that you have studied. What do coming of age stories have in common? What differences can you reflect upon? Why are coming of age stories important in our literary world?

Essay Topic 2

Think about the friendship theme in the book. Who are Selina's friends? Were some better friends than others? Who can Selina count on the most? Who will never give up on her? In the end, who acts in the purest, friendliest way toward her?

Essay Topic 3

Which character maintains the best and most useful and productive attitude toward the life that they lead? Make a case for your choice, and support with evidence from the book.

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