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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. What does Muff tell Naomi to use to help get Henry's work clothes clean?

2. What is Naomi reading in March 1937 when Cari asks about how their mother died?

3. When is the twins' birthday?

4. In February 1937, what is Naomi studying when Wash comes up behind her and puts his arms around her waist?

5. Who wants Naomi to be his girl on New Year's Eve?

Short Essay Questions

1. What idea does Wash have that might get money for the Colored School?

2. Why does Henry think destruction follows him?

3. How do Naomi and Tommie get a sewing machine so they can redo Tommie's dress for home economics?

4. What conversation do Naomi and Wash have regarding why she has been ignoring him?

5. What do Wash and Mr. Stine, the school janitor, check at the school?

6. What does Cari find in the guitar case?

7. What did the New London School give the Colored School last year, and why were those things not valuable?

8. Why does Wash say that his birthday is not for another three years?

9. How is Henry feeling about religion?

10. Where does Naomi find Cari, Beto, Katie and two other children when she goes to get baking soda for the home economics teacher?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Estelle dies shortly after the twins are born. Why does Naomi feel guilty about her mother’s death? Who is culpable for her mother’s death—her or Henry?

Essay Topic 2

Idioms are words that have a figurative, rather than a literal meaning. How are idioms used in Out of Darkness to help characters communicate? How do idioms help create word pictures and mental images for readers in a concise manner? How do idioms help readers understand characters, emotions, and ideas?

Essay Topic 3

Artistic license is the way that an author creates, art, music, or writing based on her interpretation of life. How does Perez use artistic license to create the realistic background of Out of Darkness?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,042 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample