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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. Iris' father never married her mother because he is highly distrustful of ____________.

2. Who calls up Coleman and forbids him from ever contacting the family again?

3. How old is the woman that Coleman Silk is seeing after his wife's death?

4. What does Ellie point out to Coleman when he reveals his racial heritage with her?

5. Who asked Coleman's family to encourage Coleman to do less well in a few classes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Coleman do after his father dies when he is a student at Howard?

2. What is the problem with Nathan's health which has changed him forever?

3. What is the current and past status of Coleman Silk's employment in this novel?

4. How does Coleman reveal his family secret to the woman he loves while he's in college?

5. What does Ellie do when Coleman reveals to her his racial background?

6. What does the doctor who visits Coleman's family when Coleman is in high school want from Coleman and his family?

7. What does Mr. Silk believe is the most important thing in life, especially for a black man?

8. Why were Iris' parents never officially married, though they conceived and raised Iris as their daughter?

9. How does Coleman reveal to Iris his racial background when they are getting married?

10. What does the lawyer tell Coleman in regards to the restraining order against Farley?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The children in Coleman's family seem to side with everyone else besides their father.

Part 1: Why do you think Coleman's children were so distant from him in the end?

Part 2: Do you think the choice of the funeral at the college chapel was also an attempt to hide their father's true identity? Why or why not?

Part 3: If you were one of Coleman's children, would you be upset with him? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Race is a large part of this story, even when it isn't directly discussed. But race becomes the motivating force behind many decisions.

Part 1: How is race defined within this story by its characters?

Part 2: Is race only a matter of the color of one's skin? Why or why not?

Part 3: If you could change the way you look to others, would you? Would you present yourself as a different race? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Faunia, to some, seems to be the innocent victim of an older man, but is this really the case?

Part 1: Do you think Faunia is as innocent as she wants to be perceived by others? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think Faunia pretends to be dumber than she actually is? What might be the benefits of this act?

Part 3: What might have happened in Faunia's life had she been honest to others and to herself?

(see the answer keys)

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