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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 has been hurting James?

2. What is all cracked in the city where James and Mama are?

3. Why doesn't James want anyone to tell Mama about his hurting?

4. While James and his Mama are waiting for the bus at the beginning of Chapter 4, what does James want to say?

5. Mama stayed up late before Daddy did what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does James think about when he looks up at his Mama while they are waiting in the dentist's office?

2. What does Mama do when James pushes one of the cakes towards her after stating that he "can't eat all this"?

3. Describe the scene where James is waiting.

4. What happens when James and Mama get back to the dentist's office?

5. What does James do first thing in the morning in Chapter 2?

6. What kind of things does Mama consider crybaby stuff according to James?

7. Why does Monsieur Bayonne think that his prayers aren't working?

8. What does James imagine his mother is thinking about while they wait at the end of the gravel road during the opening of the book?

9. What is the opening line of Chapter 7, who says it, and why?

10. What is James' response to Mama when she tells him they are going to town in the morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of the story, The Sky is Gray, a little old woman offers food to James and Mama in exchange for carrying garbage to the front of her house. Why do you think the old woman offered this generous meal in exchange for a simple chore? How do you think this gesture made Mama feel? Why? How do you think this kind gesture made James feel and why? Do you think Mama was comfortable accepting a meal from this woman even after James helped with the garbage cans? Why do you think other people that had seen Mama and James on the street weren't generous in offering them help? Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Mama tells James that she doesn't want him to be a crybaby. There are different parts of the story that James is afraid to show his emotions because of Mama. What are some of these instances in the story? Why do you think James was so concerned on making sure his emotions didn't show? Why did Mama raise James this way? Is Ty afraid to show his emotions? Why or why not? Do you think Mama is a terrible mother because she is so stern with her children? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In the story, The Sky is Gray, who do you consider to be the protagonist of the story? What kind of obstacles does this character face or overcome? What or who would be considered to be the antagonists in the story? How does the protagonist grow from their experiences in the story? Cite specific examples from the story to support your conclusions.

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