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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 the name of Jamal's brother?

2. What is Jamal's last name?

3. What does Jamal's father say Jamal needs to help his mother with?

4. Who tends to be the voice of reason in Jamal's life?

5. What grade is Jamal in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Principal threaten to do to Jamal if his behavior does not improve?

2. How long was Randy sentenced to jail, and what does Jamal think of this?

3. In Chapter 5, what does Mack say Randy told him?

4. Where does Jamal start walking after his fight with Dwayne, and who goes with him?

5. How does Jamal feel about the fathering Jevon does when he is around?

6. How does Mama hurt herself?

7. What does Jamal do when the gang starts arguing about Jamal being the new leader of the gang?

8. What does Jamal want for Christmas?

9. What kind of things does Jevon belittle Jamal about?

10. Who does Randy want Jamal to talk to, and how does Mama feel about this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Diversity was a major theme in this book as many different life-styles involved. How was this theme shown in this book, and why do you think the author felt it was so important?

Essay Topic 2

Jamal saw the men in his life making his mother cry, and promised himself to never do the same thing. How did Jamal go about keeping this promise, and how did this shape the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

What role does symbolism play in the story and where does it appear? How is the plot altered by the presence of these symbols?

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This section contains 595 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample