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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. Mr. Pitts teases Hurston in a ____________ voice.

2. What caused the Johnstown flood?

3. What county does Hurston travel toward in Chapter 4?

4. Why does the person who died in the Johnstown flood say someone is rude?

5. When does a "toe party" really start to get wild?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think there are debates over which folktales are true or which version is the "correct" one?

2. Why might the name John be used in tales about slaves?

3. Where does Hurston arrive at the start of the book, and what is her purpose for traveling there?

4. What is Shug's reaction to Julius Henry's story, and why might she react this way?

5. Who is Babe Hill, and what role does she play in Hurston's book?

6. Explain the story of the two brothers who started churches in Chapter 2. What is message of this story?

7. How does John trick his master in Chapter 4?

8. Why do people treat Hurston differently at the Pine Mill? How do they act around her?

9. What is the significance of the stories Hurston hears about the slave outsmarting the master or black men outsmarting white men?

10. Describe the story in Chapter 2 which tells how a man decides to become a preacher.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term hyperbole. Provide three examples where hyperbole is used in the language Hurston uses or overhears.

Essay Topic 2

Define the term voice. Who is the voice of this story? Why did Hurston elect to use this method?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Hurston's personality. How does Hurston change from the beginning to the end of the book? Why? Do you believe Hurston intended to grow when she wrote this book?

(see the answer keys)

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