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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. Who does Simple represent?

2. What happens when Hughes wakes the next morning?

3. In how many books does Simple appear?

4. Where does the incident occur where the colored teachers of a school were told they'd be fired if Hughes, an assumed Communist, read his poetry?

5. Where does Langston continue to submit plays?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens after Langston returns to New York City?

2. What does Langston do, while he is in Chicago?

3. What does Langston do with a four hundred dollar prize for "Not Without Laughter?"

4. Why does Hughes' poetry get him into trouble?

5. What does Langston do while in Carmel, California?

6. What does Langston do with the money he earns from the movie?

7. What does Langston do after his first year at Lincoln?

8. How is Langston able to tour the American South for the entirety of the summer?

9. What poetry does Hughes write during this summer?

10. Where do Langston and his mother move? How is this beneficial?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mary McLeod Bethune helps Langston Hughes.

Part 1) Who is Mary McLeod Bethune? How does Langston know her?

Part 2) How does she influence Langston's life?

Part 3) How have those people with whom Langston has come into contact influence his life and work?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Hughes throws his books over the edge of a ship.

Part 1) Why had a brought the books along? Why does he throw them overboard?

Part 2) What causes this decision? How does this action reflect his view of life and his work?

Part 3) What does this reveal about his beliefs about his trip to Africa?

(see the answer keys)

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