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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the vet's final advice to the narrator?
(a) Defy people like Norton
(b) Stay away from people like Mr. Norton
(c) Find ways to manipulate people like Norton
(d) Watch for opportunities to get close to people like Norton

2. According to Reverend Barbee, why does Dr. Bledsoe enjoy a position of apparent power?
(a) The Founder told Reverend Barbee that Bledsoe deserved the position.
(b) The Founder and Bledsoe were related.
(c) Dr. Bledsoe had performed favors for the Founder.
(d) The Founder, with his dying breath, asked Bledsoe to continue in his leadership

3. What makes the narrator homesick when he first gets to New York?
(a) a message from Mr. Norton
(b) the sight of other black people
(c) the letters he carries
(d) a Gideon Bible

4. Dr. Bledsoe is preoccupied with what?
(a) power
(b) keeping his position
(c) getting even
(d) preventing Mr. Norton from expelling the narrator

5. According to Ellison, which of the following is important for perseverance?
(a) laughter
(b) determination
(c) tolerance
(d) courage

6. What unexpected sight does the narrator see in New York?
(a) many black people
(b) people from many nationalities
(c) half-naked white women
(d) many policemen

7. What is ironic about Trueblood's situation?
(a) The college wants him to stay around.
(b) Other men have done the same thing.
(c) The college wants him to leave.
(d) He receives charity from the whites.

8. How does the narrator describe the students as they enter the chapel?
(a) They enter the chapel with resentment and fear.
(b) They enter the chapel joyfully.
(c) They enter with dread and hesitation.
(d) They enter with the love a captured people has for their conquerors.

9. What is the real purpose of the Reverend's speech?
(a) To help the students understand how important the college is to the black community.
(b) To indoctrinate the students regarding the religion of the college.
(c) To create a sense of awe in relation to Dr. Bledsoe
(d) To help the students appreciate the Founder's real sacrifice

10. What does the moon symbolize?
(a) The eye of God
(b) An eye that sees only what it chooses.
(c) Intellectual vision that is defective
(d) The vision of those in power.

11. Where is the vet going?
(a) Canada
(b) Washington DC
(c) New York
(d) an undisclosed location

12. Why is the narrator unable to see Mr. Bates?
(a) There are no jobs in Mr. Bates' department
(b) The secretary will not admit him.
(c) Mr. Bates is not in.
(d) Mr. Bates is too busy to be seen.

13. What two groups of people must pay the price for being irresponsible?
(a) idealists and cowards
(b) sleepwalkers and dreamers
(c) lazy people and cowards
(d) dreamer and cowards

14. Why does the narrator feel disillusioned when looking at the picture of the Founder?
(a) He realizes that he really has no hope of obtaining any power.
(b) He understands that Mr. Norton is going to expel him.
(c) He realizes that Mr. Norton is the one with the power.
(d) He realizes that Bledsoe is going to abuse his power.

15. What would the narrator like to add to his "hole"?
(a) a TV set
(b) four more radio-phonographs
(c) a phonograph player
(d) a kitchen

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the road in the college town ultimately lead?

2. Why is Brockway hostile toward the narrator?

3. What mistake does the narrator make at Liberty Paints?

4. What, ironically, makes the narrator's white bosses distrustful of him?

5. The image of the slave owners bidding for a naked girl is

(see the answer keys)

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