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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 children did Barbara have?

2. What were lovers from separate housing units able to do during mass?

3. Who was the overworked mother of two teenage girls in Michelle's story?

4. Which of the following was NOT included in celebrations in Bonnie's family?

5. When was the only time Robin could enjoy the sun?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Diane Bartholomew describe her very difficult childhood?

2. What memory from her past did Mo'Shay have that made her apprehensive about having sex with Reese?

3. What elements of her Rastararian faith did Bonnie try to adhere to at the time that she arrived at prison?

4. What was Diane's instinct when viewing her father's dead body?

5. To what did Barbara compare puzzle pieces in her life?

6. Who was Manny and what negative impact did he have on Brenda's life?

7. What did Diane's father make her do when he took her hunting for the first time?

8. What did Mo'Shay's mother decide about raising Mo'Shay's baby and how does Mo'Shay get the love she has needed for so long from her mother?

9. What did Bonnie Foreshaw write about her childhood Jamaican family celebrations and occasions?

10. Who were Barbara Parsons Lane's first visitors while in prison, and what did she consider to be the worst part of her incarceration?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The women's stories contain more than one iteration on the theme of disappointment. Identify at least two characters in the stories who either embody or experience disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Some of the women masterfully wove dramatic devices into their stories. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 3

Hatred takes on an almost human persona in the women's stories. What was the source of much of the hatred? Why was the hatred pervasive? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

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