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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. How old is McCall when the parents of his former girlfriend want him to testify about her assault?

2. In Chapter 23, McCall is considering a career in either journalism or what?

3. In Chapter 18, McCall is able to discover literature relevant to his life and pass the time, when he is in what place?

4. Why does McCall start ignoring his friends after he is named homecoming king?

5. In Chapter 12, McCall looks at what movie/show and how it affects young black men?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Cadillac symbolize for McCall's stepfather in Chapter 10 and how does it affect McCall?

2. What scam do Elisabeth and McCall run in Chapter 15?

3. Why does McCall feel he should have acted differently when he refuses work while on a prison type plantation in Chapter 19?

4. In Chapter 20 and 21, how do McCall's encounters with women affect him?

5. How does McCall use his new "power" of the gun when chased by group that has beaten him, and how does he feel?

6. In Chapter 5, how is McCall affected after being caught shoplifting?

7. In Chapter 19, how and why do McCall's inmates decorate their cells?

8. While driving around after graduation and not finding place to meet up with friends, what does McCall mean when he cites this driving around as an analogy of his life at this point?

9. Why do McCall and his stepfather clash about work in Chapter 10?

10. McCall's relationship with Elisabeth Miller keeps him off the streets but raises a different issue. Explain.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part I of the book, McCall describes his decision to steal as a rite of passage. What is a rite of passage, and how does McCall's decision to take from others constitute such a reference?

Essay Topic 2

According to McCall, why do so many return to prison within five years of leaving? Why does McCall say he understands why this happens? What is going on in his life when he realizes this, and why do you think McCall does not return to prison within this time?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of McCall's approval of unusual names for black babies in relation to his need to rebel against all things mainstream.

(see the answer keys)

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