View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who built a house before the sisters moved to the area?

2. What was the name of the music teacher often visited by the sisters?

3. Where was the garden planted?

4. What was the cause of Lucius' death?

5. According to the sisters, Nanny's judgment was often _____.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How did Sadie make extra money in the early years? What dampened the success of the business?

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

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

5. What prompted the family to move to New York? Who moved to the city first? Why?

6. What was the general impression of Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s? What was the other side of the situation?

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

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

9. Discuss the effect of the Depression on Harlem. Also discuss the end of the Harlem Renaissance.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Interracial relationships were not common in the late 1800s. Examine the relationship between Mr. Miliam and Nanny's mother. What were the specifics of the relationship? Was Nanny treated differently because her father was a white man? Did Miliam's wealth have anything to do with the level of acceptance in the relationship? Why was the couple never married? How might the same relationship be viewed today? How did the relationship affect Miliam's inheritance to Nanny and the children? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Sadie talks about racism in the black community. Even though the sisters are from the same family, there was a difference in the way they were treated due to the shade of their skin tone. Do you think that the shade of one's skin matters as much today, or are all blacks treated equally? Do you think other races have the same opinions and/or experiences? How did the sisters handle the difference in treatment? How were the other children treated? Why do you think some were lighter than others?

Essay Topic 3

The Delany family attended school at St. Augustine's, as did their parents. Discuss in detail St. Augustine's school. Why did Henry and Nanny attend St. Augustine's? What were their majors? What made the Delanys decide to stay there? What kind of education did the children receive at the school? What jobs did Henry and Nanny have? Was St. Augustine's school a religious, private or public school? Where did the children go after leaving St. Augustine's school?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,142 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample