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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 Mary hate the most about the workers?

2. How does Dick's voice sound when he greets Charlie?

3. What does Tony see Moses do?

4. What does Dick suggest Mary do instead of a vacation on the coast?

5. What months have passed since the previous chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mary feel about the doctor's advise? How much does the doctor charge for his services?

2. Why does Mary refuse to help Dick with the farm after he is well?

3. How does Mary's condition change?

4. What dream does Mary have about her father? What do you think its significance is? What else does Mary dream about?

5. Describe Mary's mood and state of mind as she awakes.

6. What does Dick have to do to make Mary love him?

7. How are the Turners regarded in the community?

8. What does Moses do to help Mary? How does Mary feel about being helped by a native?

9. Describe the compound where the workers and their families live.

10. How does Mary feel about Dick?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay explaining the role of social pressure, social norms, social status, and social life in THE GRASS IS SINGING. Be sure to address how these factors influence characters throughout the story with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that discusses how the novel demonstrates the weakness of white rule in Africa. Be sure to address:

1) The dependence of whites on black labor.

2) The hypocrisy of white rule.

3) Moral arguments used in the novel, with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on the power relationship between Mary and Moses. Be sure to address:

1) How the relationship changes throughout the novel.

2) How Moses exercises power over Mary.

3) The greater themes and implications of the power relationship between Mary and Moses.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 936 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample