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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 reality of racial prejudice in the legal system is Blood faced with after his encounter with Melody?

2. After the beating with the wire, Runt leaves and still has not returned by what time?

3. Party Time gets busted for the con he runs with Bobby, but Bobby doesn't go to jail with him. Why not?

4. What is Bobby's grade average upon graduation?

5. How is Sweet Jones' motivation for pimping described?

Short Essay Questions

1. Like many of the chapters, the title of Chapter 6, "Drilling for Oil" may have multiple meanings. What are two possible interpretations of the "Oil" that Slim is drilling for?

2. How does Pretty Preston reveal his true colors in Chapter 6?

3. Diamond Tooth Jimmy and Party Time (Chapter 2), Weeping Shorty (Chapter 3), Poison, Sweet Jones, Glass Top and Pretty Preston are all street names for pimps and other characters of the underworld that Blood inhabits. What are some other professions that prefer or require nicknames for their operatives and why?

4. Does it seem somewhat perverse that Blood whips Runt with a wire and then gets depressed when she leaves and doesn't come back by her usual time in Chapter 11? What does this say about the nature of an abusive relationship?

5. Did Blood's "pep talk" (beating) at the end of Chapter 6 have an effect on Runt in Chapter 7?

6. What are two ways in which the Melody incident is haunting for Blood in Chapter 7?

7. Many characters come and go in the story without being given names, even if they play a reasonably memorable role for the author (like the banker with the big tip in Chapter 1). However, in Chapter 9, Silas plays a singularly minor role and yet is given a name and place in the story. What significance could be attributed to this?

8. How is Pretty Preston used as a foil for Sweet Jones?

9. In what two ways does Pepper influence Blood?

10. Why does Bobby/Slim say that from a pimp's perspective, looking back, Steve was an idiot and played the game with Mama all wrong?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Steve and Slim's biological fathers. How are their influences on Slim's life and choices similar or different? Both will turn up again in Slim's life; how are those encounters different? How does Slim react to each encounter and how does he feel afterward?

Essay Topic 2

When Slim finally uses his intelligence towards a good and legitimate cause (studying the law so he can obtain his own early release) he is rewarded with an immediate positive feedback loop: he is released from prison early as he requested. How does this positive reinforcement encourage him to continue to employ his talents in positive directions?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Runt and Chris. How do their backgrounds differ, particularly with respect to their involvement with Slim? How does this affect their personal interactions with Slim and his treatment and regard for them?

(see the answer keys)

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