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

2. From what illness does Clara die?

3. What kind of shirt does Manny always wear?

4. What does Cassandra do to retaliate against her brother-in-law after their morning fight?

5. Who had told Caesar that dreams were a good sign for a conman?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Robert treat his daughter Betsy Ann?

3. How does Cassandra respond to teachers' attempts to set her straight?

4. Discuss the girls' encounter with Pearl and Joyce. What unconventional decision have they made?

5. What do the pigeons symbolize?

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

7. Describe the conditions in which Betsy Ann's cousin Ralph grows up.

8. Describe the relationship between Robert and Clara in "The Girl Who Raised Pigeons."

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

10. Discuss Caesar's feelings for Carol.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the way in which Jones portrays poverty in this book. Through a close examination of at least three characters in the book, discuss Jones' approach to the sensitive topic of poverty in the African-American community. Are these characters defined by their socio-economic status? How does he treat characters who live in poverty? Does their economic standing seem a reflection of their own actions or of a flawed system?

Essay Topic 2

Music is often an integral part of much African-American literature. Analyze the way in which music appears in this collection. Which stories most prominently feature music or musical elements? How does this music structure or shape the story? What does the music contribute to the characters or to the story itself?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the role of geography, space, and place in two or more of the stories in Jones' collection. How does Jones capture, explore, and comment on the urban environment of Washington, D.C.? How does Jones enlarge conventional notions of the nation's capitol city? In what ways do the depictions of the city in these stories interact with or build upon on another? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

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