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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 comment does Mrs. Boswell make about the narrator?

2. What does Billy do as the prison guard leads him away?

3. Why does R.V. say they should join forces?

4. How does Butler reply when Ella says she should have married someone different?

5. What was the occupation of Billy and William's namesake?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does William feel obliged to do for Billy and why does he feel obliged to do it?

2. Why does the officer assume Mrs. Farragot is drunk and what happens when he tries to confirm it?

3. What does the woman say about men?

4. How does Willis confront Jones and what does Willis say to him?

5. What does R.V. guarantee Willis and what does Willis plan to do with his guarantee?

6. Where do people say Billy died and what is the truth?

7. What complaint does Butler have about young blacks?

8. What happens when Willis Davis tries to join the Henry Street guys?

9. What does the narrator say that the best men do and do not?

10. What is Butler's obsession that becomes his theme as he delivers his sermons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"A Sense of Story" - In this story the judge demands that the rules of society apply to people of all races equally. Why was this a new concept? Do you think a judge would need to demand this today? Do you believe there is still racial inequality in the judicial system? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

"Widows and Orphans"- In what ways does this story look at blacks who have escaped the rural life in a disparaging manner? Do you believe this view still exists today? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

"The Story of a Scar"- In what ways does the woman believe men should think about women? How does this compare to how the narrator (a man) points out they do think about women? In what way do these ideas relate to how the story ends?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 650 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample