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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. Why can't John let the animal he finds in the field go?

2. Who raced to two packages in Chapter 4?

3. Why does Hurston want to go to a new location at the end of Chapter 3?

4. Who is Babe Hill?

5. Shug is short for _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe one of the stories Hurston hears in Chapter 4 that describes ugliness.

2. Describe the Everglades Cypress Lumber Company.

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

4. Describe the interaction between Hurston and Mr. Pitts.

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

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

7. Describe the differences between the two slaves' actions in Joe Wiley's story.

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one story Hurston hears while on her travels and discuss its influence on the community. What message is the story trying to convey? Why does Hurston choose to illustrate this story in her book?

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the song John Henry? Analyze one verse from the song and explain how it relates to black history.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the interaction between the community during storytelling. What role does storytelling play in the community? What does Hurston learn during these gatherings?

(see the answer keys)

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