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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Hightower think he let down the people of Jefferson?
(a) Because he wanted to allow Negroes to attend services
(b) Because he was not a very good fund raiser
(c) Because he was not very high up in his class at the seminary
(d) Because he tried to support church leadership instead of tending to the spiritual needs of the people.

2. What are the townspeople eager for over Miss Burden's death?
(a) a conviction
(b) the process of justice
(c) a suspect
(d) vengeance

3. How does the relationship between Christmas and Miss Burden evolve?
(a) They become best friends.
(b) They become lovers.
(c) He becomes the manager of her farm.
(d) The friendship cools off after a year.

4. What does Christmas eat while on the run?
(a) rotten fruit and hard corn
(b) cheese and bread
(c) berries
(d) nuts

5. Why do the townspeople virtually ignore Miss Burden?
(a) Because she never married
(b) Because she is more intelligent than any of them
(c) Because she associates with Negroes
(d) Because she is too eccentric

6. Who do the townspeople think inspired Christmas to attempt an escape?
(a) Mrs. Hines
(b) Hightower
(c) Lena
(d) Byron

7. What happens after Miss Burden opens up about her family history?
(a) She lets Christmas eat in the kitchen and meet her in her bedroom later.
(b) Christmas gets bored with Miss Burden's cloying presence.
(c) Miss Burden asks Christmas to marry her.
(d) Christmas makes fun of the woman's version of history.

8. What final horror is inflicted on Christmas before he dies?
(a) He must watch as his grandmother is stabbed.
(b) His throat is slashed.
(c) Percy Grimm castrates him.
(d) He is lynched.

9. What does Miss Burden leave out for Christmas every Saturday?
(a) A to-do list
(b) A meal in the kitchen
(c) A Bible lesson
(d) A paycheck

10. How does the fading afternoon light seem to Hightower?
(a) audible
(b) sad
(c) rosy
(d) sentimental

11. What does the old woman instinctively know about Christmas without even seeing him?
(a) That he is their grandson
(b) That he is not capable of murder
(c) That he is a murderer
(d) That he will be hanged for his crime

12. What does Byron do when he returns to town?
(a) Takes all his money out of the bank
(b) Buys a new suit
(c) Tells his landlady that he is moving
(d) Donates all his money to the church

13. Who is the National Guard soldier who stakes out Christmas with his troops?
(a) Joe Brown
(b) Calvin Burden
(c) Percy Grimm
(d) Lucas Burch

14. What does Hightower's grandfather wear during the Civil War?
(a) A foreign uniform
(b) A plain pair of pants and simple shirt
(c) A minister's frock
(d) A business suit

15. Where does the stranger take Christmas?
(a) Memphis
(b) Chicago
(c) Mottstown
(d) Jefferson

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Brown tell Lena he cannot stay at the cabin?

2. What does Christmas trade a black woman for when he is on the run?

3. Where does Christmas get a job?

4. Instead of leaving town like the sheriff thinks he will do, what does Byron do that night?

5. What does the sheriff tell Byron he will do?

(see the answer keys)

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