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

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

3. What does Coleman tell Iris of his family and their history?

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

5. What caused Coleman Silk's wife to die during the investigation into the comments he made during a class?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Doc Chizner tell Coleman not to tell the Pitt coach when he is applying for a scholarship?

4. What happened to cause Coleman Silk to have to seek retirement from his job?

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

6. What does the doctor offer to Coleman's family in return for the favor they request, though the Silks turn the offer down?

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

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

9. Why did Coleman and Iris marry if they were complete opposites without passion for each other?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even in his darkest times, with rumors swirling about him, no one seems to stick up for Coleman.

Part 1: Why do you think none of his academic colleagues stood up for Coleman?

Part 2: Why do you think Coleman's children instantly believed the rumors instead of giving their father a chance to explain?

Part 3: Do you think anyone likes Coleman enough to help him? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

When Coleman decides not to talk about his heritage in the face of his accusation, he is doing himself a disservice.

Part 1: What might have happened to Coleman had he actually stood up for himself during the accusations?

Part 2: Is it possible Coleman was trying to punish himself in some way for his lying? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think that Coleman wanted to destroy his life? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of secrets is pervasive in this story. It seems that everyone has something to hide.

Part 1: Would Faunia's life have been better had she not hidden her literacy? Why or why not?

Part 2: Would Lester's life have been better had he not hidden himself in Vietnam? Why or why not?

Part 3: Would Nathan's life have been better had he not hidden his sexual dysfunction? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample