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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What had Mr. Trueblood done prior to his disgrace?
(a) He was a guest lecturer
(b) He had been involved in tutoring the black students.
(c) He was a special singer at the college.
(d) He was an employee of the college.

2. What does the narrator want to do in Chapter 12?
(a) marry Mary Rambo
(b) spend time alone
(c) make speeches
(d) get a new job

3. What does Dr. Bledsoe call the narrator?
(a) an educated fool
(b) a traitor
(c) a liar
(d) a slave

4. How did the narrator get invited to participate in the Battle Royal?
(a) He volunteered because it looked interesting.
(b) The people who arranged the speech planned to include him.
(c) He happened to be at the hotel to give a speech to white men.
(d) He thought it was part of the award.

5. The narrator's need to give speeches is an example of what literary device?
(a) suspense
(b) irony
(c) foreshadowing
(d) audio imagery

6. What does Trueblood's story suggest about the white men at the jail house?
(a) They were horrified by his story and tried to get him to move.
(b) They secretly enjoyed hearing his story.
(c) They were angry and kept him in town as an example of how not to behave.
(d) They didn't believe his story.

7. Where does the narrator find himself in chapter 11?
(a) a mental ward
(b) a hospital
(c) the factory hospital
(d) a prison

8. The narrator's pondering of his upcoming punishment is an example of what literary device?
(a) allusion
(b) symbolism
(c) suspense
(d) foreshadowing

9. How is the paint symbolic?
(a) It is white, reminding the narrator of the slogan, Keep America Pure with Liberty Paints.
(b) It symbolizes work and success
(c) It symbolizes society's ability to cover evils
(d) It symbolizes purity and correctness

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

11. Why does Mr. Bledsoe compose his face into a bland mask?
(a) He doesn't want the narrator to realize how upset he is.
(b) He doesn't want Mr. Norton to know he is angry with the narrator.
(c) He wants to hide the fact that he is angry with Mr. Norton.
(d) He wants to see Mr. Norton's reaction before revealing his own feelings.

12. The narrator considers himself an invisible man because ____________________.
(a) people don't understand him
(b) people refuse to see him with their inner eyes
(c) people can't see him
(d) people subconsciously ignore him

13. Why is the narrator offended by the man behind the drugstore counter?
(a) The man assumes will order the special of pork chops, grits, one egg, biscuits, and coffee.
(b) The man does not give him what he orders.
(c) The man wants to see his money before serving him.
(d) The man overcharges him.

14. What is the narrator's explanation for taking Mr. Norton to the Golden Day?
(a) The car was out of gas.
(b) He thought he could get medical help there
(c) Mr. Norton was driving
(d) Mr. Norton ordered him to go there

15. Why is the narrator initially concerned about finding work as soon as possible?
(a) He hopes to save enough money for his fall tuition.
(b) He does not want to appear broke if he has to ask for credit for his room rent.
(c) He is concerned about being able to buy food.
(d) He is afraid he will run out of money for rent.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the narrator notice about the whites in the city?

2. How does the narrator regard Mr. Bledsoe?

3. What does Mr. Norton give to Trueblood?

4. Why does Mary Rambo want to take the narrator home?

5. Ellison's primary struggle in writing the book was

(see the answer keys)

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