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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 one way not mentioned by Kozol's friend Elizabeth that poor people know that they are living in a rich society?

2. According to the principal, how much does Woodrow Wilson spend yearly on each student?

3. Which citiy sits across the Delaware River from Camden?

4. How many students from Woodrow Wilson, according to Kozol, sign up to take the SAT in the spring of 1990 when he visits?

5. What type of people does Octovia, a child at the Anacostia elementary school, say that the girls want to be like when they grow up?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Milliken v. Bradley case's appeal to Supreme Court.

2. How do the suburban schools in New York compare to the urban schools in New York?

3. How are test scores in math and reading determined? How do the determination of these scores affect children in poor schools?

4. Where does Delabian Rice-Thurston say the rich and middle class in Washington, D.C. try to send their children to school? Why don't the poor parents send their children to the same schools?

5. Hoe does Kozol describe Camden, New Jersey?

6. How does Kozol describe the situation at Asbury Park and Irvington?

7. Describe PS 261.

8. How does Kozol describe the D.C. school system?

9. Why does Kozol think that inner city problems would not be totally solved by better schools?

10. Describe PS 79.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jonathan Kozol says that he wrote Savage Inequalities so that the voices of the children that attend public schools in America could be heard. In your opinion, what audience did Kozol want to read this book? Who was his target audience? Did he write his book for teachers, administrators, state leaders, government officials, etc? Why do you think he wrote the book for the audience that you have identified? Please use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

According to Kozol, non-white leaders are often picked to solve local school problems. Why is it assumed that non-white leaders are the best candidate to solve the problems of local urban school systems? Who would be the best candidate(s) to solve the local school problems? Why?

Essay Topic 3

In various areas, Kozol speaks with adults about the health of the students that attend the poor urban schools and that live in the community. What types of illnesses do the adults mention children having in the various cities that Kozol visits? How do the students get these illnesses? Based on the book, how do you think these illness effect children's education? What can be done to improve the health of students in these various urban cities? Please use specific examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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