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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. Who is Will's stepfather?

2. What is one thing Will is grateful to Steve for?

3. How does Rosalita feel watching Tariq's vigil?

4. Why does Kimberly dislike Tariq?

5. Who tried to give Tariq CPR?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Jennica and Noodle doing when they witness Tariq's death?

2. In Chapter 6, what does Vernesha regret that she did not do more of for Tariq?

3. Whose house does Jack Franklin go to to hide out and avoid all the media attention he receives after killing Tariq?

4. What is the role of Brian Trellis in Tariq's killing?

5. What caused the white puddle that Jennica remembers seeing on the pavement around Tariq after he was shot?

6. Why does Rocky Fry feel guilty about Tariq's death?

7. How does Noodle feel about Tariq?

8. What does Tina think about the sirens outside her open window on the night Tariq is killed?

9. Why does Reverend Alabaster Sloan feel guilty about Tariq's killing?

10. What does Steve Connors think about the importance of appearances and clothing when you are a black man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Because Will (AKA eMZee) grew up in Underhill but now lives in the suburbs, he feels separated and out of the loop from his old neighborhood and friends, and Tariq's killing only exacerbates this feeling for him. Write an essay exploring how Will's graffiti helps him feel more connected to his roots and his old community.

Essay Topic 2

How does Magoon portray the police in this novel through both her descriptions of their actions and the perspectives of different characters? Write an essay explaining your answer, being sure to cite specific references to the text.

Essay Topic 3

On the very first page of this novel, in the section titled The Incident, Magoon writes that there are few known facts surrounding the shooting death of Tariq Johnson. However, it becomes clear in the following pages that there are six separate eyewitnesses to the crime. Write an essay explaining why the known facts about Tariq's death are so few despite the fact that so many eyewitnesses were present.

(see the answer keys)

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