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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. How did Jimboy punish him?

2. Tempy and her husband have done well financially and have stopped hanging around who?

3. What did Aunt Hager think of Jimboy's letter?

4. Where did Harriet and Jimboy go?

5. Hager, Annjee and Sandy are very poor, so poor that they can't afford what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did many black people have to leave Stanton?

2. How does the reader know that Harriet has lived a difficult life since she left home?

3. What happened to Crowville? Why did this happen?

4. How did Hager believe the blacks should deal with white oppression? Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

5. What takes place at the same time during "Carnival?" Why is this significant?

6. How does Hager show she is a determined woman in this chapter?

7. How does Annjee react when Jimboy comes home and ignores her and her cooking? Should she react this way? Why or why not?

8. How is it revealed in this chapter that class structure and race is important to the people of Stanton?

9. Describe the relationship between Harriet and Hager.

10. How is this a sad Christmas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aunt Hager believes that the world only has room for love.

Part 1) Describe the situation in which Aunt Hager mentions this. Why does she believe the world has room for "nothing but love?" If the soul is ugly, how can the world only have room for love? Do you agree with Hager? Why or why not?

Part 2) How can the world make room only for love? Does this take place in the story? Is this thought reflected anywhere in the story? Explain.

Part 3) How is love seen in our world today? Do you believe it is possible for all races and cultures to love and respect each other? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Sandy is told to not trust women.

Part 1) Who tells Sandy not to trust women? Why do they tell him this? What does this reveal about those who told Sandy this? What does it reveal about men at this time? What does it also reveal about women? Would women at this time agree that they are out to trick men? Why or why not? Do you believe that Sandy should beware of women? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does inequality between the sexes and the vast differences in social classes influence the beliefs of these men and the actions of women? If there were more equality, would there be more honesty and trust between men and women? Why or why not?

Part 3) Does Sandy listen to these men? If so, why and how? If not, why not? Does this lack of trust exist today? Explain. Do you trust the opposite sex? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

A bout of the mumps changes Sandy's life.

Part 1) Describe this event in the book. Why is this period of Sandy's life so influential? Why had this not taken place before? Why does it have such a lasting effect on Sandy?

Part 2) What other events drastically change the characters in this story? Why are these events so powerful? How important are these events to the plot and outcome of the story?

Part 3) What event has occurred in your life that has had a lasting effect on you? How have you been affected by it? How might this one event change the course of your future?

(see the answer keys)

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