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. What would be the likely ending to Slim's pimping lifestyle?

2. Where does Slim escape to from the State Workforce?

3. Who does Slim team up with to execute his plan after getting out of Leavenworth?

4. What kind of car does Slim buy?

5. It is 1958, how old is Slim?

Short Essay Questions

1. While out on bail in Chapter 16, how does Slim show his true colors as a friend to Sweet Jones and why?

2. What consequences to others does Slim fail to consider before or mention after his escape in Chapter 18?

3. How has Leroy been spending his years when Slim runs across him again in prison?

4. Twice in Chapter 19, Slim turns to family for help. To whom does he go and for what?

5. How does the Chapter 22 title "Dawn" reflect the evolution of Slim's life at this stage?

6. How does his mother's death in Chapter 22 affect Slim's life?

7. Why does Leroy's arrest drive Chris to work for Blood?

8. How does the relationship between Chris and Slim evolve during the 1940's in Chapter 14?

9. What prompts Runt to work harder after her return in Chapter 12?

10. Why does Blood begin to feel like a real pimp in Chapter 13?

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The slang is outdated and nearly unreadable.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

Tuskegee University has an opportunity to turn Bobby Beck into a Harlem Renaissance man, a black man full of creative power and prolific ability. Instead, they turn him out of the school after Bobby cannot be convinced to obey the rules. Is the University "cutting off its nose to spite its face" with this rejection of talent and genius? Should the school take on the responsibility of preventing an obviously troubled youth from becoming another crime statistic, particularly in an era when opportunities for black men were so few and far between and the need for powerful black intellectuals was so critical in the social equality movement? Conversely, is it the school's responsibility to babysit ungrateful children who cannot simply comply with reasonable standards for straight living and personal achievement?

Essay Topic 3

In the World War II years, Sweet Jones makes the prediction that pimping will become tougher because women will now have more ways to make money legitimately. This is an entirely personal viewpoint, somewhat jaded by the nature of his business but, in fact, Sweet is right. How does the work environment change for women in World War II? What effect does this have on prostitution?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,009 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample