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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 Martha's boyfriend acquire his home?

2. Where are the Hoffmans going?

3. What time period did most of "West" take place in?

4. What are the requirements for a slave to be liberated and selected by their master to enter the American Colonization Society's program?

5. Where do most of Nash's students come from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What illness has killed many slaves?

2. Describe the mystery woman.

3. Where did Nash Williams first settle in Africa, and what did he do there?

4. Describe the plantation that Edward Williams owns.

5. Describe Martha's boyfriend, Chester.

6. Describe the relation between Madison Williams and Edward Williams.

7. How did Madison Williams get emancipated?

8. What happens to the relationship between Nash and his natural mother?

9. How did Chester acquire his home?

10. Describe Martha's friend, Lucy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Crossing the River is a novel made up of four different, stand-alone stories, but they all have common themes and characters. What characters did you find to be most similar from different stories, and why? How are they similar? What themes do they reflect, and what influences their character? Does setting play a role in their shared themes or is it more of their similar circumstances? Remember to provide examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

"West" and "Somewhere in England" both focus on women, but they are women of very different worlds. Compare and contrast the characters of Martha Randolph and Joyce. How are they similar (in situation, circumstances, personality, etc), and how are they different? Take note of the fact that they are of different time periods as well as of different nationalities. Make sure you use examples from the stories to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In "West," Martha endures significant hardships, but she finds hope in different places. Describe three hardships that Martha has endured, and explain how she endured them. Where did Martha find hope? What gave her solace during these different obstacles?

(see the answer keys)

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