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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 does Ella encourage Malcolm to do before he gets a job?

2. In what state does Malcolm's family settle?

3. What does Malcolm say he keeps his ears to when Archie is after him?

4. How many siblings does Malcolm X have?

5. How far is the detention home from Lansing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Malcolm regret trying to change his hair into a conk style?

2. What does Malcolm learn when he moves to Boston?

3. In what way is Malcolm a good student?

4. What does Malcolm state are the differences in the concept of love between Western religions and Islam?

5. How are Malcolm and his gang able to get into the houses to rob them?

6. Describe Malcolm's visit home in Chapter 5.

7. Why does Malcolm change his surname from Small to X?

8. Briefly describe the history of Harlem outlined in this chapter.

9. In what way does Malcolm appreciate his difficult upbringing?

10. How did Malcolm deal with the trouble he has with Archie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: "Malcolm X uses the autobiography to market his image rather than his ideas." Use two examples from the book to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

At one point the book uses Boston as a setting.

1) What meaning does Boston bring to the book? What would you automatically link with someone who grew up in Boston?

2) How different do you think today's Boston is to the Boston in the book? How do you think the book's meaning would change if it were set in today's Boston?

3) How do you think the setting contributes to the book's humor?

Essay Topic 3

Examine racism in America. How has it changed? How much do the students think Malcolm X was responsible for this change? Do you think racism still exists? How can we rid the world of racism? How long would it take?

(see the answer keys)

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