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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. What does Maureen do with the small animals born in her hut?

2. What does Gina do in Section 6 to bring about admonishment from Maureen?

3. Why does Maureen suddenly bring up the stolen items in Section 10?

4. What does Maureen advise July to do about the car in Section 7?

5. What does July want to ask Maureen about in private in Section 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why the chief wants to learn to use a gun.

2. Explain Maureen’s feelings about her life, prior to the riots, as reflected upon in Section 9.

3. In Section 9, what does Martha dream for the future, and how does this differ from July’s dreams?

4. What is July’s feeling about Maureen working in the fields, and why?

5. Why is Maureen surprised when July mentions he wants things to go back?

6. Explain why Maureen drowns the kittens and what this implies about her?

7. What does it imply that the chief can speak in English, but doesn’t at first?

8. Why does Maureen give a final belittling speech to July, and what does she say?

9. Describe Maureen’s point about the smell of her family.

10. What is missing when the Smalls arrive back at the hut in Section 9, and what does this likely mean for the family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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 detail, explain what happened to the relationship between Bam and Maureen throughout the novel. Why did they both end up not only not caring for one another by the end of the novel, but not even understanding or even knowing one another? What happened to cause their separation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,057 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample