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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 is the total time lapse of Chapter 6?

2. What information does Glass Top give Blood in their first meeting?

3. Before marrying a rich man, what was Pepper doing?

4. What is the setting after Blood is released from prison the second time?

5. In later life, Bobby is told that being a pimp demands a certain personality trait. What is it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Besides giving him his first street name, how does Weeping Shorty influence Blood's career as a pimp?

2. At the end of Chapter 4, Runt and Blood leave Milwaukee and go to Chicago to begin their new lives as pimp and prostitute together. Before he leaves though, Blood goes by Mama's house to tell her where he's going. How does this reflect his ambivalence towards his mother?

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

4. How does Blood show his courage and psychological insight in his dealings with Sweet Jones in Chapter 6?

5. Describe the con that Party Time and Bobby work on white men.

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

7. Why do Blood and Sweet Jones never discuss their differing opinions on white society?

8. Blood gets up on his second day in Chicago and immediately gets high before going out for the night in Chapter 7. How does this sequence of events foreshadow a potential for backfire in Blood's plan to befriend Glass Top to get to Sweet Jones?

9. Another good name for Chapter 2 might be "Down a Dark Alley." What are three ways in which this name would be appropriate?

10. What is one of Slim's secrets to success for pimping in Chicago?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Common reviews and/or criticisms of the book "Pimp: The Story of My Life" include:

It is actually categorized as a work of fiction.

It has poor character development, particularly of the female characters.

The slang is outdated and nearly unreadable.

The lurid detail is more self-serving than explicative.

The plot movement is slow.

It is an unapologetic and graphically real look at the lifestyle it attempts to portray.

The writing style is inspired and gripping.

Slim truly tells it like it is.

React to some of these statements and craft your own thoughtful and well-reasoned review of this book (attempt to use your knowledge of literary standards as opposed to visceral reaction).

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

In Chapter 1, Bobby Beck's father suggests to his mother that they should leave Bobby on the steps of the Catholic church since they cannot afford him. Given the childhood violence Beck is exposed to and life that Beck subsequently leads, would this perhaps have been a better alternative leading to a better life? Consider what the upbringing of a black boy in a 1920's Catholic orphanage would have been like, the damage (or lack of) Beck/Blood/Slim inflicted on those around him and the ultimate result of his decisions and life path.

(see the answer keys)

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