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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. Why did Howard Hughes come to Tim's Creek, according to the narrator's mother?

2. What do Cicero and Tony drink together after Tony fixes Cicero's car?

3. Who is the narrator's grandmother, in The Eternal Glory That Is Ham Hocks?

4. What does the music star call Ed, to Ed's surprise?

5. What does Inez Cross Chasten tell Howard Hughes when he tells her everyone has their price?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the bystanders in the grocery store react when Lazarus beats up J.C. Stokes?

2. How does Police Chief Cavanaugh react when Lazarus turns himself in after beating up J.C.?

3. Why does Lazarus pursue Gina, even though he has known her her whole life and he knows she has a reputation for trouble?

4. Why does Inez Cross Chasten choose not to tell her husband, ever, about Howard Hughes's proposition to her?

5. Why does Ed Phelps go to the Carnegie Deli in the story When We All Get to Heaven?

6. What is the narrator's mother in the story The Eternal Glory That Is Ham Hocks pleased about regarding his career path?

7. What does a man in the street in New York City hand Ed that puts Ed off in the story When We All Get to Heaven?

8. How does Ed Phelps's musical interaction with Idol affect him later that same day?

9. What does Francesca assume Idol's antics with Ed are all about in the story When We All Get to Heaven?

10. How does Ed get caught up in Billy Idol's entourage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are some tactics Kenan uses to connect separate stories in this collection? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

How do you think the townspeople collectively perceive and act towards Percy Terrell, and how does Kenan communicate this dynamic to the reader? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring Kenan's descriptions of the life and feelings of the young runaway slave Amanda in the story Mamiwata, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 734 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample