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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 does the author imply is lacking in black communities?

2. Who has arrived at John's house?

3. What does Mattie tell Ann about what Jeff was in high school?

4. How many years has Ann's father been in prison?

5. Who is Jeff's childhood friend who comes to the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mattie ask Ann to do while she and Grandma go out shopping?

2. What does John ask Dudley for when he abruptly changes the subject?

3. Why does the author use the theme of black male figures in the story?

4. What are the police demands when they surround the house?

5. What is Grandma's opinion of Ann?

6. How does Jeff make his entrance into the play?

7. What is Dudley's philosophy of medical practice and death?

8. How does the play begin and who is the first character to appear?

9. What can John and Dudley tell about Ann after speaking with her for a short while?

10. Who is Jeff and what is his anticipated entry into the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Dudley. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the play's title. What did the author mean by calling the play THE RIVER NIGER when the play is actually set in Harlem in New York City? Cite an example to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of hope. Identify at least two themes about hope in the book. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

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This section contains 880 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample