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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. One day when Langston and a white friend go to a cafeteria for lunch, how much does his friend's meal cost?

2. On what does he spend his money?

3. Does Langston have any interest in poetry?

4. What is Hughes pleased to find about Africa?

5. Where do Langston's poems continue to appear?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Langston do after dropping out of Columbia?

2. What happens when Langston is fourteen?

3. How does Langston act on stage at church? What are the reactions of the congregation and his mother?

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

5. In what literature is Langston interested at this time?

6. How is Langston affected by racism at this point in his life?

7. What influences exist in Langston's life at this point?

8. What happens when Langston's mother performs at church?

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

10. How is Langston's father's mind changed, regarding his collegiate studies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hughes does not want to climb the social ladder.

Part 1) Why does he not want to climb the social ladder?

Part 2) Is he trying to help others climb the social ladder? Why or why not?

Part 3) Has Hughes climbed the social ladder, even though it is something he does not want? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

A theme found in much of Hughes' work is the optimism of humor.

Part 1) How is this a theme?

Part 2) How is humor optimistic? What does this reveal about Hughes?

Part 3) How might this theme draw readers to Hughes' work?

(see the answer keys)

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