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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 was the name of the nephew who had a special place in the hearts of Sadie and Bessie?

2. What was the name of the funeral parlor where Nanny was laid to rest?

3. Which sibling's son joined the service?

4. Sadie touts the importance of all but which of the following:?

5. What was the name of Hap's wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. Examine the effect Nanny's death had on Sadie.

2. Examine the incident with the cottage, Bessie, and the judge.

3. What is written about the assassinations of the famous leaders of the time, particularly those involved in the Civil Rights Movement?

4. How did the Delanys react to the major changes that were going on around them in Harlem?

5. Explain Bessie's first practice. Who shared the office suite with Bessie?

6. What drastic action did the sisters take to care for Nanny?

7. How did Nanny's death change Sadie's role in the family? What was the family's reaction to the change?

8. The sisters talk about the deaths in the family. Who died first? Could any of the deaths have been prevented? Explain.

9. Discuss Hubie's role in the political arena in New York.

10. The sisters talk about their situation during World War II. Discuss at least one issue the sisters had at that time.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bessie refers to the Jim Crow laws as being "an ugly, complicated business." (Part 4, chapter 11, page 69) Discuss Jim Crow. Who was Jim Crow? Was he a real person? What were the Jim Crow laws? When and why were they put into effect? Were the laws state or federal laws? Where were the laws observed? Where were they broken? Why did Bessie think that they were ugly and complicated? Are the Jim Crow laws still in effect? If so, where? How would the laws apply today?

Essay Topic 2

Even at their advanced ages Bessie and Sadie are completely independent. The sisters say that many people do not believe that they do not have a maid or helpers of any kind. Explain why people are so surprised at the sisters' level of independence. Do you think they could handle any situation that would arise at their home? Who helped with outside chores such as banking and grocery shopping? How were the neighbors involved in the sisters' lives?

Essay Topic 3

The author says: "Both more than one hundred years old, Sarah ("Sadie") Delany and her sister Annie Elizabeth ("Bessie") Delany are among the oldest living witnesses to American history." (Part 1, page 3) What do you think it would be like to be in that position? Would you want to be one of the oldest living witnesses? What types of things did the sister see first hand that you would consider to be ancient history? Would you record your experiences? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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