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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 is July hurt by Maureen in Section 5?

2. Who used to visit Maureen in the yard with July?

3. What is Maureen afraid of, in terms of the children and the water?

4. What did July bring back with him after taking the bakke without permission?

5. Why does Maureen avoid reading the only book she has?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the bakke, and its use in the Smalls family, both previously and currently.

2. What does the son mean when he says “They can’t do anything. Nothing to us anymore” (pg 21).

3. Explain Martha and July's mother's reaction to meeting Maureen in Section 2.

4. What does July learn to do in Section 4, and who teaches him?

5. Explain what Maureen discovers as she notices various gadgets being used around the village.

6. Explain where the Smalls find themselves in the opening section, and where they came from.

7. What does Maureen mean when she says “death is a purchase” (pg 65)?

8. What was the relationship between July’s “town woman” and July? What was the relationship between July's town woman and Maureen?

9. Describe what Bam and July are able to make for the village.

10. What happened to the blacks under the Small’s employ, including July?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

July’s mother is a powerful female figure in his life. At the same time, however, she is being forced to do as July says. How does her role as a woman in the novel differ from the role of Maureen as a woman? Both are mothers and strong women. How do their differences show the differences in cultures, and how do their similarities show similarity in culture?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the character of Maureen at the beginning of the novel, and at the end of the novel. What are similarities? What are differences? How has she changed through the novel, and what caused her to change?

Essay Topic 3

In the book, the chief is willing to kill other blacks in order to save his own lands and power. Describe this concept. Why would the chief be willing to kill “his own people” in the words of the Smalls? What does July explain that shows blacks are not all in collusion with one another? How does the chief see other blacks if they threaten his power? Does the Smalls’ belief that they should band together show support or a lack of understanding? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 877 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample