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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where does Mrs. Thomas say Bigger will end up if he doesn't straighten out his life?
(a) Living on the street
(b) The gallows
(c) In jail
(d) In foster care

2. What is Vera doing at the YWCA?
(a) Teaching a class
(b) Meeting her boyfriend
(c) Taking sewing lessons
(d) Learning to swim

3. What two words best describe Bigger in this opening part of the novel?
(a) Pessimistic and Angry
(b) Hopeless and Fun-loving
(c) Helpless and Strong
(d) Angry and Joker

4. What is different about Bigger and his friend's plan this time?
(a) They will wear the jersey of a vival gang.
(b) They will do it in daylight instead of night.
(c) They will use a gun and the person is white.
(d) They will use a car to getaway.

5. Where does Bigger take the trunk with the body inside?
(a) To a dumpster
(b) Into the garage
(c) Out to the car
(d) Into the basement

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Mary ask Bigger to pick up after they leave home his first night working for them?

2. What happens when Bigger puts Mary's body in the trunk?

3. Who does Bigger decide to blame for Mary's death?

4. What terrorizes the family in the opening of the novel?

5. When Bigger when arrives at the Dalton home for his interview, what question plagues him as he stands outside the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bigger really feel about holding up Blum's Delicatessen?

2. Why do the Dalton's make Bigger feel so uncomfortable?

3. Why does Bigger need to get a job?

4. Why does Bigger seem to take an instant dislike to Mary Dalton?

5. Why does Bigger get so angry and violent with Gus when he says he'll go along with the robbery?

6. How does Bigger feel about his family?

7. What is the symbolism of the two movies Bigger and his friends saw?

8. What does it mean about Bigger "Feeling his blackness," even more after Mary Dalton and Jan Erlone's attempts at being friendly?

9. After Bigger realized Mary was dead, why didn't he even consider just telling the truth?

10. What happened when Mary's body didn't fit into the furnace?

(see the answer keys)

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