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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. Why does Deck insult Ronnie Parkman?

2. What does Sandy discover has happened to Nkrumah school in Chapter 16?

3. What is the name of Birdie's fictitious father?

4. Where does Sandy meet Jim?

5. How does Ali's father know Deck?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reaction does Birdie expect her mother to have about her absence?

2. Why do the girls in New Hampshire make fun of Birdie in Chapter 9?

3. How does Nicholas offend Birdie in Chapter 10?

4. How does Ronnie Parkman help Birdie find her father?

5. Why does Birdie imagine she is doing a school report for her old Nkrumah school?

6. Why does Birdie feel betrayed by Sandy in Chapter 13?

7. How is the class difference between Birdie and Nicholas demonstrated in the novel?

8. Describe Samantha.

9. Describe Corvette.

10. How does Birdie finance her trip to California?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the time period in which Birdie and her mother lived in motels and communes. What motivates Sandy to make the choice to live such a transient lifestyle? How does transient living affect Birdie's education and character development? What motivates Sandy to settle down and how does that decision affect Birdie's character?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Birdie and Samantha's characters. What compromises have both characters made and how do those compromises affect their development? What could have motivated Birdie to ignore rather than befriend Samantha? What could have motivated Samantha to remain silent about her knowledge of Birdie's racial heritage? What does Birdie desperately want Samantha to do, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the significance of Birdie's box of "negrobilia". What does the box originally contain and what types of items does Birdie add to it over the years? Why do Deck and Cole give Birdie the box? What is the significance of the negrobilia to Birdie?

(see the answer keys)

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