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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. How does Sandy know the Harvard professor?

2. What do Cole and Birdie learn from an Ebony magazine article?

3. What fear does Sandy develop in Chapter 3?

4. Where do Birdie and Cole sleep?

5. Which offensive gift has Grandma Lodge given Cole in the past?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Deck Lee.

2. How is Birdie schooled while she and Sandy are on the road?

3. What is Deck's theory about ethnic restaurants?

4. How does Sandy finance her flight from the FBI?

5. Where do Sandy and Birdie live in the four years following Sandy's flight from the FBI?

6. What erratic behavior does Sandy begin to display after she and Deck separate?

7. Describe Sandy Lee.

8. Describe Birdie's relationship with Carmen.

9. How does Deck begin to view interracial couples after he and Sandy separate?

10. What happens in Sandy's basement after she and Deck separate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Nicholas' comment about Birdie's appearance affect their relationship? What perceptions does Birdie have of beauty and race? What perceptions does Nicholas have of beauty and race? What might this foreshadow for their relationship?

Essay Topic 2

How does Birdie find acceptance in the novel? What role does education, family, and friendships play in her quest for acceptance? What role does race and color play in her acceptance? Where does Birdie find acceptance, and why? What might this acceptance foreshadow for her future?

Essay Topic 3

How does Birdie's perceived race affect her status in society? What strengths will she need to develop as an adult in order to thrive in American society? How might living in Berkeley affect her outlook on people of mixed race?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 995 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample