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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Byron Bunch tell Hightower he is going to do with the cabin on Miss Burden's property?
(a) Sell drugs
(b) Expand the whiskey business
(c) Use it as a storeroom
(d) Move Lena in so she can have her baby in peace

2. 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.

3. Why did Hightower's grandfather never visit his son's home?
(a) Because he could not leave his farm
(b) Because his son was an abolitionist
(c) Because the trip was too far
(d) Because he thought letters were sufficient

4. Who does Byron bring to Hightower's house?
(a) Lucas Burch
(b) Lena's parents
(c) Mr. and Mrs. Hines
(d) Mr. and Mrs. Gould

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the old man do when he hears that Christmas has killed a white woman?

2. What does Miss Burden insist that Christmas do every day to prove his faithfulness?

3. What are the townspeople eager for over Miss Burden's death?

4. The baby's first cry also has a strong emotional release for Byron. Why?

5. What does the old man holler out while waiting on the train to Jefferson?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hightower finally realize as he sits at his window watching the fading light?

2. New life has significance in more than one way in this chapter. Explain.

3. Why are the townspeople anxious to find Miss Burden's killer?

4. How does Faulkner show that women are more realistic and more forgiving in this chapter?

5. Explain this statement made by Christmas: "Whether they are seventeen or fortyseven, when they finally come to surrender completely, it's going to be in words."

6. How does Mrs. Hines indirectly cause the death of Christmas, her grandson?

7. The cries of Lena's newborn child are significant for Byron. Why?

8. Other than the fact that he is a good person, why does Hightower feel the need to help Christmas?

9. Why does Byron force an encounter with Brown after Brown flees from Lena in the cabin?

10. Why is Hightower so upset that Byron has asked for his help with the situations regarding Lena and Christmas?

(see the answer keys)

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