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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. In the story "A View of the Woods," why does Fortune visit the courthouse?

2. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," why does Sheppard invite Rufus to live with he and Norton?

3. In the story "Greenleaf," what had the Greenleaf boys done to distinguish themselves?

4. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," what is Julian's career goal?

5. In the story "The Comforts of Home," why does Thomas put the gun in Star's purse?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the black woman who sits next to Julian on the bus in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge."

2. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," how does Norton react when Rufus tells him about hell? Why?

3. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," what draws Sheppard to Rufus Johnson?

4. In the story "Judgement Day," how does Tanner die?

5. In the story "Revelation," what is the significance of Mrs. Turpin's vision at the end of the story?

6. In the story "Judgment Day," what is the only time that Tanner has "feelings of warmth" for his daughter?

7. In the story "Parker's Back," why doesn't Sarah Ruth want Parker to have the Bible tattooed on his back?

8. In the story "Judgment Day," what does Tanner say will happen on judgment day?

9. What is the significance of Julian's mother's hat in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge"?

10. In the story "Revelation," why does Mrs. Turpin continue to repeat the phrase "there's a heap of things worse than a nigger"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Imagine if one of the stories in this collection was missing from it. Choose one of the stories and "remove" it from the collection. Write an essay:

1) explaining the role that the story plays in the collection;

2) describing how the collection would be different without the story;

3) comment on the quality of the novel without the story--would it be better or worse? Why?

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Select the story in the collection that you most identify with. Write an essay explaining:

1) why you selected this story;

2) what is significant to you about the story;

3) how the story reflects your personal beliefs.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Imagine that two of the characters from different stories were to meet. Write an essay describing what their meeting would be like focusing on how they would interact, what they might do together and what sort of relationship they might develop.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 989 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample