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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is assumed about literature much of the time, in Morrison's point of view?
(a) American literature is worthless for black Americans.
(b) American literature is only read by Americans.
(c) American literature is unshaped by slavery.
(d) American literature is unshaped by black presence.

2. Which group, according to Morrison, is more likely to claim that racism is neutral?
(a) Americans.
(b) Europeans.
(c) Africans.
(d) Asians.

3. What does Morrison not mention the world as being?
(a) Liberalized.
(b) Genderized.
(c) Sexualized.
(d) Racialized.

4. Which of the following best describes Marie Cardinal?
(a) Small and crass.
(b) Sensitive and young.
(c) White and privileged.
(d) Stressed and insane.

5. What is an example of the concept of black figuration?
(a) Morrison's reading style.
(b) The manifestion of Cardinal's illness.
(c) Slavery in American history.
(d) Africanism in American literature.

6. Who is the author of Three Lives?
(a) Henry James.
(b) Marie Cardinal.
(c) Willa Cather.
(d) Gertrude Stein.

7. Who gave the lectures that Morrison bases Playing in the Dark on?
(a) William Massey.
(b) Willard Mast.
(c) Wexley Moth.
(d) Westley Morford.

8. Who was Cardinal warned against having relationships with?
(a) Arab people.
(b) White people.
(c) Black people.
(d) Jewish people.

9. What did Cardinal tell her doctor not to keep in his office?
(a) A gargoyle.
(b) A clock.
(c) A framed photo of Louis Armstrong.
(d) A water dish for his cat.

10. In what role does Morrison describe herself as assuming nothing happens?
(a) Black woman.
(b) Reader.
(c) European.
(d) Writer.

11. When did Morrison read The Words to Say It?
(a) 1983.
(b) 1988.
(c) 1990.
(d) 1978.

12. What does Morrison teach?
(a) English composition.
(b) Racial Studies.
(c) Women's studies.
(d) American Literature.

13. Until recently, what did Morrison assume about all readers of American fiction?
(a) They are women.
(b) They are raceless.
(c) They are men.
(d) They are white.

14. What accusations does Morrison accept the risk of when discussing studies of racism?
(a) She is racist.
(b) She has never studied literature.
(c) She has vested interest in the topic.
(d) She has never studied racism.

15. What is American literature described as being in Playing in the Dark?
(a) A bookshelf.
(b) A melting pot.
(c) A closet.
(d) A treasure trove.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Morrison see that the subject of the dream is?

2. What does Morrison claim has impoverished literature?

3. What is the name of Sapphira's slave?

4. Which author does Morrison mention first as containing black references?

5. According to Morrison, what do readers and writers struggle to interpret?

(see the answer keys)

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