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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. How long has Beneatha wanted to be a doctor?

2. What does Beneatha call Walter Lee?

3. George thinks a person should read books in order to:

4. Where did Ruth go with Walter Lee?

5. What time are the moving men due?

Short Essay Questions

1. Ruth thinks that the sign Beneatha is making for a box of china can be seen from an airplane. What is Ruth implying about Beneatha?

2. Is Mrs. Johnson sincere when she says, "I'm soooo happy for y'all"? Explain.

3. Why is Beneatha upset at Walter Lee in this scene?

4. Walter Lee asks Mr. Lindner to get out, but Mr. Lindner leaves something behind. What?

5. Beneatha says that there's nothing left of Walter Lee to love now. How does Mama respond?

6. Describe Walter Lee's body language as he approaches Karl Lindner to accept the man's offer.

7. Mama serves sweet potato pie to Mrs. Johnson. What is sweet potato pie?

8. Ruth wants to take a hot bath at the new house. Explain why that is a luxury for her.

9. Mama says she's tired after work. She has climbed steps to get into the apartment. Explain why she didn't use an elevator.

10. At the end of the play, Mama tells Ruth that Walter Lee "finally come into his manhood today." What does it mean to come into your manhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hansberry starts the play with a poem by Langston Hughes about a "dream deferred." Explain how this poem and its images relate to the play.

Essay Topic 2

Identify and describe the following dramatic structures in the play: Exposition, Rising Action, Turning Points, Climax, and Falling Action. Use dialogue and text examples to support your descriptions.

Essay Topic 3

All of the characters in this play have specific relationships to money or the lack thereof. Examine the theme of money in this play and how it affects the various characters.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 599 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample