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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 did Brew drop on one of the boys' faces?

2. Which member of his family does Piri have an argument with?

3. What does Brew say his mother taught him?

4. What does the C in ABC stand for?

5. Why does Piri not want to work with Danny and Billy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Piri and his family say to each other the next morning?

2. How do Brew and Piri ensure a job for themselves on a ship?

3. What tragedy occurs when Piri returns to New York?

4. Describe the argument between Piri and his brother, Jose.

5. What is Piri's sentence for shooting the policeman and for the robbery?

6. What does Piri's father tell him in at breakfast in Section 5?

7. What work does Piri find in Section 7?

8. Why must Piri and Brew sit at the back of the bus?

9. What are Piri and Brew's plans in Section 5?

10. How does Piri get off heroin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Piri's writing style. How would you describe his prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Piri's style give to his story?

Essay Topic 2

What problems have mixed relationships caused in the past? Why were people so against mixed relationships? Is part of the attraction between Piri and Betty the antagonism they know their relationship will cause?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Piri use character and setting to express his themes?

(see the answer keys)

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