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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. During the winter, what does Ms. Johnson wear to bed?

2. During the winter, how does Ms. Johnson get water for washing?

3. Who claims to be able to remember Grandma Dee without the quilts?

4. What scraps of Grandma Dee's clothing are in the quilts?

5. In what point of view is "Everyday Use" told?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe John Thomas and his role in the story.

2. What religion is Ms. Johnson in "Everyday Use" and what does her religion indicate about her character?

3. What does the way Dee dresses for her visit with her family indicate about her character?

4. Discuss the role of Great Grandpa Ezra in "Everyday Use."

5. What happened to the Johnsons' previous home and how has this tragedy affected the family?

6. Explain Ms. Johnson's feelings about white people.

7. What do Dee's light skin and her white heel symbolize?

8. Why doesn't Dee think Maggie deserves their mother's two hand-stitched quilts?

9. When Ms. Johnson gives Grandma Dee's hand-stitched quilts to Maggie, how does each Johnson sister in "Everyday Use" react?

10. Although the exact setting of "Everyday Use" is never specified, what clues in the text indicate where the story takes place?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dee changes her name to Wangero in "Everyday Use." Discuss this name change citing examples from the text to support your arguments.

Part I: Discuss what Dee's name change indicates about her character.

Part II: Discuss what Dee's name change indicates about the era in which she lives.

Part III: Discuss what Dee's name change illustrates about her relationship with her family.

Essay Topic 2

Education is a theme in "Everyday Use." Discuss how Alice Walker depicts this theme and what you think she is saying about education in the story. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Grandma Dee, Aunt Dicie or Big Dee, Grandpa Jarrell, Great-Grandpa Ezra and John Thomas are mentioned in "Everyday Use" but never appear on stage. Discuss these minor characters from the story and how the author uses them to illustrate her themes of family and community. Are there any other themes you think the author uses the characters to convey? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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