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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 many of Olympia's children are from her current marriage?

2. What holiday is the deadline to give The Arches committee the name of the escort for the event?

3. Who's mother plays bingo in a club in Harlem?

4. What month is the ball going to be held?

5. Which two characters are twins?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Olympia such a great woman?

2. How is Felicia different than Olympia?

3. Why is Veronica mad at Chauncey at the end of Chapter 2?

4. Why is Olympia worried about Charlie?

5. Describe Veronica's dress for the ball.

6. Why does Charlie want to meet Veronica's escort?

7. What is special about the family's Thanksgiving day meal?

8. How does Chauncey feel about the invitation to The Arches?

9. How is Harry different than Olympia's previous husband, Chauncey?

10. How do Olympia's and Harry's backgrounds differ?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Olympia values family above anything. How does she show her love of her family throughout the book, even when times are rough or she is frustrated with her family?

Essay Topic 2

The author tries to paint Olympia as a character who has a "perfect" life. Do you think Olympia has a perfect life? Explain your reasoning using details from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Class is an ongoing theme throughout the book. Many of the characters are high class, while some, like Frieda, came from a low, working class of people. How does class define people? Do you think Chauncey is defined by class? Is Olympia defined by class? Who is not defined by class in the book? Why is class so important to some people in the book? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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