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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 leader of the TNT gang?

2. What is the name of the man who interviews Piri?

3. Who does Piri ask to dance?

4. How is Trinidad related to Louie?

5. What is the name of the hospital where Piri works?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe Piri's upbringing.

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

4. How does Piri's father react to Piri's temporary blindness?

5. Describe the fight between Piri and Rocky in the opening section.

6. What problems does Piri face when the family moves again?

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

8. How does Piri injure his hand?

9. How does racism bother Piri in the fourth section?

10. How does Piri get rid of the Jolly Roger gang members who chase him home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Piri wants to see the Southern states? How could Piri's attitude cause him big problems in the South? How are race relations in the the South different from race relations in the North?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 721 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample