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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 Langston's mother want him to do?

2. What does Langston find to still be prevalent when he visits his mother?

3. What does Langston observe while working at a soda fountain?

4. How many parts of the African coast does Hughes see?

5. What does Langston learn about his father?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Langston's father.

2. Why do Langston's classmates believe he would be a good poet?

3. What does Langston realize about his father, when he visits him for a summer?

4. What takes place during Langston's senior year?

5. How is Langston, yet again, faced with prejudice?

6. Why does Langston travel to McKeesport, Pennsylvania?

7. How is Langston reunited with his father?

8. Describe Lincoln.

9. What is Langston's job on the S.S. West Hesseltine?

10. How does Langston become involved in school activities at Central High School?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hughes has a strong work ethic.

Part 1) How is this revealed early in his life? How does he come about this work ethic?

Part 2) How does this affect his art?

Part 3) Would he have been as successful without this curiosity and interest in the world? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Langston goes on a poetry-reading tour.

Part 1) Describe this tour. Why does he go on this tour?

Part 2) How does he affect those to which he speaks? Why?

Part 3) How is Hughes affected by the people to which he speaks and meets?

Part 4) How does racism continue to play a role in Hughes' life during this time?

Essay Topic 3

Hughes travels to Africa.

Part 1) Describe his trip. Does it turn out as he expected? Why or why not?

Part 2) What is ironic about this trip?

Part 3) Why is color so important to various cultures at this time? Is race still important today? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 730 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample