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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Ellison himself was a member of which branch of the military?
(a) airforce
(b) army
(c) Merchant Marines
(d) navy

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) Dr. Bledsoe had performed favors for the Founder.
(c) The Founder and Bledsoe were related.
(d) The Founder, with his dying breath, asked Bledsoe to continue in his leadership

3. Why does the narrator have difficulty getting along on his first two jobs?
(a) He is not correctly educated for the job
(b) He is too highly educated for the job
(c) He is the only black person on the job
(d) He doesn't understand or fit in the blue-collar/union world

4. According to the vet, who controls "things"?
(a) white people
(b) black people
(c) rich people
(d) white, upper-class males

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Ellison's original story was written about which of the following?

2. What truth does the vet tell to the narrator that the narrator does not yet understand?

3. What bit of advice from the young Mr. Emerson does the narrator actually heed?

4. How is the paint symbolic?

5. What does the narrator tell Mr. Emerson that he wants to do with his future?

Short Essay Questions

1. What literary device is used in Chapter 4?

2. What mistake does the veteran doctor predict the narrator will make?

3. What does the narrator notice while waiting for his appointment with the trustees?

4. How does the setting in chapter 5 provide additional foreshadowing?

5. What favor does the young Mr. Emerson do for the narrator?

6. To what kind of action has music called the narrator?

7. In what way, according to the veteran, is the narrator likely to become a casualty?

8. What lie does Dr. Bledsoe expect the narrator to tell?

9. Explain the irony of the sign "Keep American Pure with Liberty Paints."

10. Why does the narrator say he is invisible?

(see the answer keys)

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