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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 book do the Devil and God examine in "Devil Bird"?

2. What do the white men ask Johnny B?

3. What course does Kenny take?

4. What kind of hours do Smithy and Tito work?

5. Who is the pastor in "Thrust Counter Thrust"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Harlem," what happens between the police and the crowd?

2. In "Six Days You Shall Labor," what do Big Mo and the others do after being told not to pick the pecans?

3. What do both the devil and God want to consult repeatedly in the story "Devil Bird"?

4. What does the machine in "The Distributors" appear to do to people?

5. In "The Man Who Could See Through Fog," what is the intent of the smoker machine?

6. In "Six Days You Shall Labor," what happens when Big Mo sells the pecans at church?

7. In "The University of Man," why does Tyros take his journey?

8. In "The University of Man," what does Tyros vow to do after going to the universities?

9. How does Saul's inability to enlist in the army in "Thrust Counter Thrust" affect his feelings about Lon's death?

10. Why does the man in the crowd who has to be removed in "Harlem" become agitated?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What relationship does Dumas draw between the topics of frustration, oppression, and racism in this collection? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What is Layton Bridges's most fervent wish, and how does Dumas convey it to the reader in the story "Goodbye, Sweetwater"? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Dumas expose the supposed power of the echo tree through the dialogue between the two main characters in the story "Echo Tree"? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 628 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample