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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. What is the name of the gang Piri gets involved in?

2. What drug does Piri smoke at the faggots' apartment?

3. What race does Piri say he thought he always was part of up to the interview?

4. What is Piri reading with his friends in this section?

5. Which of the following do Piri and his friends not steal from the store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problems does the family face in the opening section?

2. Why does Piri decide to return home instead of running away?

3. Describe the way of life in Harlem.

4. What happens to Piri at the hospital?

5. Describe Piri's upbringing.

6. Why does Piri think Crutch has a good way of looking at racism?

7. Describe Piri's relationship with Betty.

8. How does Piri ensure that he becomes part of the TNT gang?

9. How does Piri react to the news that his father is having an affair?

10. What problems does Piri face when he has to move to a new neighborhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What major events had a profound affect on Piri's life? How did they change him?

Essay Topic 2

Why has gang culture become such a big part of life in the poorer areas of America? Why does Piri feel he needs to be part of a gang?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the book.

1) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's ideas?

2) Examine the way Piri uses other people in the story to express his ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 761 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample