View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why was Jimboy fired?

2. In "One by One", Annjee finally receives what?

3. Sandy noticed that his reader showed black Africans as what?

4. Sandy really wants _________, but the best his mother can do is to get Mr. Logan to build him one.

5. What is not clear about Harriet?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Hager and Sister Johnson view Jimboy, as compared to other men?

2. What are Hager's religious beliefs? What does Harriet think about these beliefs?

3. Describe the relationship between Harriet and Hager.

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

5. Summarize "Storm."

6. What does Annjee decide to do in "One by One?" Why does she decide to do this?

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

8. What is learned about Jimboy and Sandy's relationship from their time fishing together?

9. What does Jimboy do when he comes home in "Guitar?" Why might he do this?

10. How is Annjee treated by her employer? Do you believe this is unusual behavior for an employer at this time? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Pool Hall is a popular place for black men to congregate.

Part 1) Describe the Pool Hall. Why is it so popular? What does it reveal about African American men? How do these men compare to their African American female counterparts? Analyze these differences.

Part 2) How do these men compare to white men in this culture? Are they similar? Are they different? Why? How do these men compare to men today? Would these men be any different if they were allowed more freedom and more choices of recreational activities? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you consider the behavior of these men bad? Why or why not? Should places like this exist today? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Most of the characters in this story are women.

Part 1) Why might the author have made most of the characters women? What generalization can you make about these women? What generalization can you make about the men in the story? How do the women compare to the men? What does this reveal about the culture of the time and the author?

Part 2) What might this story have been like if most of the characters were men? Would it be different? Why or why not? Why has the author put an importance and an emphasis on women, especially considering the author is a man?

Part 3) Compare these women to the women in your own life. How are they similar? How are they different? What might account for these similarities and differences? Although most of the characters are women, can men relate to these characters? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,094 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample