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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. Who else was Malcolm working for in this chapter?

2. What does Malcolm say is the equivalent of money in prison?

3. Where does Malcolm work after the shoeshine job?

4. Who does Malcolm blame for Laura's demise?

5. What used to attract white people to Harlem?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Malcolm go about helping to change the Nation of Islam in Chapter 12?

2. Why do you think Malcolm is so shocked at the Nation's action against him?

3. How does Malcolm's trip to Boston change him?

4. Why doe Malcolm initially think that it is a good idea to give up cigarettes in prison?

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

6. What does Malcolm find African American life like in Chapter 2?

7. In what way does Harlem educate Malcolm in the inequalities facing black Americans?

8. What happens when Archie and Malcolm finally encounter each other?

9. Why is the nation of Islam so important to people like Malcolm?

10. What does Malcolm do when detectives began trailing him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss with the students first person point of view. Why do the students think first person point of view is not necessarily reliable? What moments in the book do the students think are not so reliable and why? With the students, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using the first person.

Essay Topic 2

Look at the differences between Islam and Christianity. What are the strengths and weaknesses of both religions? How much do people in America know about the Islamic religion compared to Christianity? Do the students think that we need to understand other religions before we criticize them? Has this been a problem in the past?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss differences between the novel and autobiography formats. What are the main elements of a novel? What are the main elements of an autobiography? What can novelists express that an autobiographer cannot? How can autobiographies keep to the facts while still maintaining a level of entertainment?

(see the answer keys)

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