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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 was it surprising to find Aunt Hager this way?

2. When Sandy came home from work, how did he find Aunt Hager?

3. Sandy was wondering more and more about sex and Tempy had given him a book about it called ______________ written by a white Presbyterian Minister from New England.

4. What happens when Sandy quits his job?

5. Why had Tempy been embarrassed of Hager?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Harriett grown up? How is this revealed in what she says to Sandy and Annjee?

2. How did Tempy change her life?

3. Was Sandy's first view of Chicago what he expected? Should he have expected this? Why or why not?

4. Describe Hager's funeral.

5. What does Sandy get from working in a barber shop?

6. How is the title, "The Doors of Life," significant?

7. Should Sandy have dumped Pansetta?

8. How has Harriett changed since she left home for the last time?

9. What is the first major event in "Ten Dollars and Costs?" How might this be both a good and bad job?

10. What does Hager have to say about the soul and the world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A carnival and revival take place on the same day only a half mile apart.

Part 1) Describe the events surrounding this carnival and the revival. Why has the author put both of these events on the same day near each other? What does this reveal about the characters and the culture at the time?

Part 2) How might people act today if there were both a carnival and church revival on the same day? Would the reaction be the same? Why or why not?

Part 3) How are these two events similar? How are they different? What do they have to say about how people spend their leisure time? What does it also say about one's priorities in life?

Essay Topic 2

Hager believes that slavery was not all bad.

Part 1) Describe Hager's experiences as a slave. How does she support the statement that slavery was not good, but it was not all bad? Is this sufficient support? Why or why not?

Part 2) How is life in this oppressive culture worse than slavery? Why is it worse than slavery? What role do both whites and blacks play in this oppressive culture?

Part 3) How has our culture changed since this time? Is it still oppressive? If so, how? If not, why not? Is there room for more equality, love, and understanding in our culture? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Sandy grows up a great deal in this story.

Part 1) Describe Sandy's development into manhood throughout this story. How do the other characters in this story, as well as events that take place, affect him? How does he influence others in this story?

Part 2) How do the other characters grow and change as well? How do these changes affect the dynamics between the characters throughout this book?

Part 3) How have you, your friends, and your family changed over the years? Why have these changes occurred? How have these changes affected your relationships? Overall, have these changes been good? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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