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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 is responsible for Elaine's urgency to get out of their neighborhood in Chapter 40?

2. How much is Elaine asked to put up to hold the house she wants in Chapter 42?

3. What did Elaine's nieces and nephews refer to her as after her car accident?

4. What friend from prison does Elaine hope to see at a rally in Chapter 33?

5. Who says, "No matter what you do in life, you can never go back?"

Short Essay Questions

1. After years of not seeing each other, Elaine doesn't greet Nate in the same way as his fantasy. Why?

2. What changes does Jamel see on Avenue D in Chapter 34?

3. Describe the living room of Apartment 13B from Chapter 40.

4. When Elaine realizes that a family member stole money from her, she does nothing. Why is that?

5. Explain "cuff therapy."

6. What does Jamel provide to Elaine in Chapter 38 that no one else thinks to do?

7. Why does Elaine call 911 in Chapter 32?

8. Why is Apartment 13B more crowded than usual on April 3, 2001?

9. When Jamel ends up in the hospital with a hurt leg and neck, how does he explain it to his mother?

10. Why does Elaine go to the anti-drug law rallies once she is out of prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Of Yvonne Bartlett's seven children, five served time in jail or prison. The two who didn't died as young adults. Was Yvonne a good mother? Was she good at her role? Did her own arrest have any effect on the outcomes of her children? Who or what is to blame for the outcome of the majority of the Bartlett children? Parenting? Society?

Essay Topic 2

For Elaine, having her own home and having her children live with her is a goal when she is released from prison. Is Elaine successful in her goal during "Life on the Outside?" If not, what is stopping her from being successful? Is it a realistic goal? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In "Life on the Outside," it appears that the only thing that Elaine and Lora have in common is that they're both African-American women. They grow up with different socio-economic status. One has formal education as a young adult; the other doesn't. One is a mother; the other isn't. One suffers from HIV; the other doesn't. One serves time in prison; the other doesn't. They even have different opinions about men. Yet somehow these two women become friends. Why do you think this happens? What draws these two women to each other?

(see the answer keys)

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