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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 type of job does Manny offer to Caesar to tide him over until he succeeds with his heist?

2. Where do Betsy Ann and her father live?

3. In "The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed", when the car stalls, who is able to get it started?

4. When does "The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed" take place?

5. What is Miles' profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the pigeons symbolize?

2. How does Rhonda Ferguson's father treat Cassandra?

3. What does Betsy Ann do to lose her father's trust? Why does he become so angry?

4. In "The First Day", why does the little girl at Walker-Jones Elementary look at the protagonist's mother as though she is "diseased"?

5. How does Robert respond to his daughter's desire to raise pigeons of her own?

6. Describe the errand Gladys' mother pays Cassandra to run.

7. Describe the conversation between the girls about the effect Rhonda's fame will have on her.

8. Describe Robert's reaction to becoming a widower and single father in "The Girl Who Raised Pigeons."

9. Describe the final interaction between Caesar and Carol.

10. Describe the environment in which Betsy Ann grows up.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Religion emerges as a significant theme throughout the collection as Jones presents a nuanced approach to this central element of the African-American community. Discuss Jones' commentary on the institution of religion in the community he describes. How does Jones comment on the influence of religion in the African-American community? Is it a purely spiritual institution in the community? Or, does the church also serve a social purpose in the community?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the role and characterization of the police officers in the work. How do the police interact with the characters in Jones' stories? Is the relationship between the characters and the police officers antagonistic? Respectful? What might Jones be saying about the treatment this community receives from its police officers in this collection?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the ways in which class is portrayed in the collection. Referencing at least three different characters and/or stories, discuss the presentation of the upper-, middle-, and lower-classes in this collection. With whom does Jones seem to side? Which characters are portrayed with the most sympathy? Which seem to be most constrained or affected by their class status? What is Jones' message regarding class in this collection?

(see the answer keys)

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