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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 did someone describe Lady Day's face after she "got skinny" according to paragraph 9?

2. What can Lady Day do when she sees a baby according to paragraph 7?

3. What are all the people waiting downstairs for Lady Day "involved in" according to paragraph 8?

4. Paragraph 7 says that Lady Day would stay longer if only she did not have to do what?

5. What does the speaker say Lady Day will do after opening her vanity case at the start of paragraph 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways does the speaker compare Lady Day to her dog Pepi?

2. Who are the "business-minded fellows" waiting for Lady Day in paragraph 8 and why are they there?

3. Who do you think Tallulah is and how is she described in paragraph 5?

4. Why do you think Lady Day's relationships with other women did not last?

5. In what ways does the speaker excuse the singer even if she is late for a performance in paragraph 8?

6. How is Lady Day's relationship with babies described in paragraph 7?

7. Paragraph 7 says that most would not guess that Lady Day was what?

8. According to paragraph 9, what feedback did the singer receive after losing weight?

9. What situation is described in paragraph 6 that involved Pepi being the only thing would could save Lady Day?

10. How is the makeup and hair Lady Day wears described in paragraph 9? What is it meant to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Billie Holiday's character. What are her goals and motives. Do you think she achieves her goals? Why or why not? In what ways might her goals clash with other people or the time period?

Essay Topic 2

Define character study. In what ways is this story a character study? Write a brief essay explaining elements of this story that make it a character study.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Zadie Smith's decision to tell the story using the second-person point-of-view. How does this impact the reader's understanding of the story's events? Is this effective? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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