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. Sandy goes to work during the winter and overhears many stories and meets many people, learning to do what?

2. Why did Sandy want to get away from Tempy?

3. Sandy receives word from Annjee that she finally has the money for what?

4. Buster made fun of Sandy for reading so much and dared him to come out and play pool rather than finishing up what book?

5. Harriet says that __________________, black people cannot let brains go to waste.

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sandy's life change after Hager's death?

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

3. Why does Tempy help out with the war effort?

4. Describe Hager's funeral.

5. In "Children's Day," how does inequality even affect African American children?

6. How does Hager react to the unfair treatment of Sandy and his friends? Do you agree? Why or why not?

7. How does Sandy come to the decision to get his education? How does this change his mind?

8. Why is Sandy to avoid lower-class women?

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

10. Should Sandy have dumped Pansetta?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sandy is a good student.

Part 1) Describe Sandy's education throughout this book. Is it adequate? Why or why not? Should he have been placed in an integrated school, even though he was still segregated in many ways from his white classmates? Explain.

Part 2) Does segregation still exist today? Explain. Are all Americans given equal chances at receiving an adequate education today? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does Sandy's education compare to your own? How does Sandy's view of education compare to your own? How does Aunt Hager's, Tempy's, Sandy's, and Harriet's view of education impact you? Do you put as much emphasis on getting a good education? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Many conversations about life take place between the chapters.

Part 1) Describe two of these conversations. Why do they take place? What do they reveal about the characters involved in the conversation? What do they reveal about others in the story?

Part 2) What do these conversations reveal about the culture of the time? What do they also reveal about our culture today? How has our culture changed since this time? Is this a positive change? Why or why not?

Part 3) How can you relate to these conversations? When have you had similar conversations? How are conversations about life necessary? How do conversations such as these aid one in understanding oneself and others?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,092 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample