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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 began molesting Faunia after her mother got remarried?

2. What kind of Classics teacher is Delphine Roux, the one who helped Coleman Silk with his investigation?

3. Coleman is convinced that the false accusations against him _________ his wife.

4. Coleman is a __________ skinned Jew, according to his own description.

5. Coleman Silk was a professor of _________ and Latin at the college.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Coleman go to the lawyer the next day after seeing Farley?

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

5. What happened on the day that Nathan found Coleman in only his shorts?

6. Describe Iris' health on the day that she died, according to the book's description.

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

8. What does Coleman want to do with his life at first when he is out of the military and back in New York?

9. What makes Iris a strong woman, according to the descriptions in the book?

10. What does Coleman Silk confess to his neighbor when he is 71 years of age?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The war seems to have done quite a number of Les when he is described in this book.

Part 1: Why do you think war veterans can have so many mental disorders when they come back home?

Part 2: Do you think that Les could ever be rehabilitated?

Part 3: How do you think Les has changed from before he went to war?

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

The idea of the professor having an affair of sorts with the illiterate janitor is a little bit contrived, some would say.

Part 1: Do you think a professor and a janitor would realistically have an affair with each other? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think Faunia and Coleman are attracted to each other?

Part 3: Do you think that Faunia and Coleman would have had a shot at being together? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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