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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. Where did Claude's father grow up?

2. When does Paul have a cancer scare?

3. In "Riot," when Janice and Annette take shelter at Grandma and Paul's place, how many bottles of wine does Paul open?

4. Last winter, where did Mary Dobson send her baby to?

5. What do the Jackson parents teach at Chicago State?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Janice and the Redbelters," what does Paul look like in a photo he shows Claude?

2. How did Paul and Grandma meet?

3. What happened after the fight that Claude's parents had in "Sixty-Third Street Beach"?

4. Why does Claude say that Chill's Smokehouse was a front?

5. What happens when Claude goes to a party at the twin's place with Chester, Janice, and Renaissance?

6. Where is Claude's mother from?

7. In "Riot," what does Claude remember about a patrolman he sees standing in combat gear?

8. What does Grandma tell Claude when he keeps running away in "Sixty-Seventh Street"?

9. Why and how does Annette leave Chicago?

10. What problems is Claude having in "Cookout"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Grandma and Paul encourage Claude and Janice to be independent. How do Grandma and Paul encourage Claude and Janice to be independent? What are the benefits of being raised to be independent? How do Claude and Janice benefit from the way that Grand and Paul raised them to be independent?

Essay Topic 2

Jonah moves into Claude’s neighborhood. Who is Jonah? What does Jonah begin to represent to Claude and Paul? Why is Jonah important in their lives?

Essay Topic 3

A spoiler in literature is an element in a story that reveals plot elements. What are some titles of chapters? How do those titles indicate what will happen in a chapter? Are the chapter titles spoilers?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 869 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample