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

2. Where did Harriet and Jimboy go?

3. "Work" begins with Jimboy and Sandy doing what?

4. Jimboy sings many songs that he has learned from where?

5. Why do Tempy and her husband quit the black Baptist church?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Tempy and her husband leave the Baptist church?

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

3. How does Annjee defend her decision to go to Detroit?

4. How does Aunt Hager react to Harriet and Sandy going to a dance? Why does she react this way?

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

6. How does Aunt Hager help others during and after the storm?

7. Describe the relationship between Harriet and Hager.

8. Why is Jimboy returning home? Does Aunt Hager believe him? Why or why not?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The personalities and beliefs of the characters are revealed early in the story.

Part 1) Describe the personalities and beliefs of each of the main characters. How are these personalities and beliefs revealed in the story? How do these personalities and beliefs cause conflict between the characters? How do they also bring the characters together?

Part 2) How do the characters' personalities and beliefs change over time? What causes these changes? How do these changes alter the plot of the story? Do the events of the story guide the characters' reactions and opinions? Do the characters' personalities and beliefs guide the events in the story? Are both the characters' personalities and the events in the story play equal roles in the progression of the plot? Explain.

Part 3) How can you relate to these characters, their personalities, and their beliefs? How does the author make these characters "real" for the reader?

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

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)

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