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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 work does Piri do aboard the ship?

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

3. How does Ricardo claim he is related to Piri?

4. What does Brew suggest the man can donate the money to?

5. Where does Piri start to work after he gets off the heroin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Jose and James' physical appearance.

2. How does the prison guard, Casey, react to Piri and Little fighting?

3. Describe the fight between Piri and his father in Section 7.

4. Why does Brew think the term "boy" is acceptable?

5. What problems does Gerald say he has being part Negro?

6. How does Piri get off heroin?

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

8. What story does Brew tell Piri?

9. Why does Little say he did not throw more punches at Piri's midsection?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Piri's relationship with crime.

1) In what way does Piri make a decision to enter a life of crime rather than being forced into a life of crime?

2) How much do Piri's troubles have to do with his identity crisis?

Essay Topic 2

Why was the color of his skin such an issue to Piri? How much of the difficulties Piri had with the color was due to himself rather than society?

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 853 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample