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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. What does Coleman think is helping him to feel younger and stronger, aside from Faunia?

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

3. Coleman Silk is also the first dean of __________ for the college who has the characteristic as the answer to #8.

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

5. What else did the person asking Coleman to do poorly in school say they would set up for Coleman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the nice letter that Coleman found in his personal belongings say?

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

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

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

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

6. What is Coleman's religious background and why is this an important detail to note?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Les is an interesting character as he almost seems too "bad" to be believable. His actions are almost predictable - too predictable.

Part 1: Why do you think Lester would have been with a woman like Faunia?

Part 2: Why do you think that Lester couldn't come back and heal himself after Vietnam?

Part 3: Do you think it's realistic that Les murdered Coleman and Faunia? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Coleman's determination to live a life the way he wanted to live it had effects on everyone, even if that wasn't his intention.

Part 1: Why do you think Coleman was all right with the idea that his family basically disowned him?

Part 2: Why do you think that Coleman decided to choose to be white instead of black?

Part 3: How do you think Coleman's friends would have reacted had they known he was part black?

Essay Topic 3

It's interesting that the story includes a modern day reference to the Bill Clinton scandal, as it mirrors other events in the story as well.

Part 1: Why do you think the author decided to include the reference to the Bill Clinton scandal?

Part 2: Do you think Clinton's situation and Coleman's situation are similar? Why or why not?

Part 3: What do you think the novel has to say about affairs between older men and younger women?

(see the answer keys)

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