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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 does the father of the girl Billy impregnates insist?

2. What does Red say the other workers are feeling since she started dating Billy?

3. What does "everyone" know that Slick is in to?

4. What does the note from the narrator's father say will happen if he has to dance?

5. What does Butler's wife advise him to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of person is Billy?

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

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

4. What does the woman say Billy would need to do to be able to get promoted and how does he spend his time instead?

5. What does Leon become a rival for with the author and how does he show up the author?

6. What complaint does Butler have about young blacks?

7. What happens when the narrator of this story asks the woman sitting in the waiting room how she got the scar on her face?

8. Describe Red Bone and what she tells the woman about Billy.

9. What does Mrs. Farragot do that causes someone to call the police?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Elbow Room"-In what ways is race discussed in this story? Why do you think this story was placed last in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

"Elbow Room"- Do you believe the baby should be white and blind or black and self-blinded? Which is the better situation? Why do you feel that way?

Essay Topic 3

"Why I like Country Music" - What role does love play in this story? In what way are stereotypes developed through this story? What role does one's culture during their formative years play into understanding others?

(see the answer keys)

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