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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. James can't ever be scared or can't ever what?

2. Where do James and Ty sit to hear Monsieur Bayonne play?

3. What color is Mama's hat and coat?

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

5. Why did Mama go over to the fence?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the sleeping arrangements in James' home.

2. In Chapter 13, what does James think about to keep from getting cold?

3. Why does James close his eyes while he's walking with his Mama back to the dentist's office and what happens when he closes his eyes?

4. How are the nights different now that Daddy is in the Army?

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

6. What does James hear as he is walking to the cafe?

7. Why does the preacher ask the young man to stand up?

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

9. What does Mama do when James says he doesn't want to kill the second bird?

10. Why does the young man hope that all young black men are not like him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the different moods presented in the story, The Sky is Gray. What type of events help to create the moods in each chapter or section of the story? How do the moods change throughout the book? Are there any underlying moods that stay throughout the whole story? If so, what are they? By the end of the book, has the mood changed for the better or for the worst?

Essay Topic 2

Who is your favorite character in the story, The Sky is Gray? Why did this character appeal to you? What characteristics did you like about this character? Were there any characteristics that you didn't like about this person? What does this character add to the story? How would things be different if this character did not exist in the story? Would anything remain the same in the story if the character didn't exist? If so, how?

Essay Topic 3

The author, Ernest J. Gaines does a wonderful job in describing the outdoor surroundings and scenes in the story. What benefit do these descriptions give the reader of The Sky is Gray? How does it make you feel when you can picture the cold wintry scene in your head and know that Mama and James are having to walk in the cold, wet sleet? Why do you think it was important to give details of the dirt road, the river, and other objects in the story? What element does this add to the story? Does it connect the reader to the characters more? How?

(see the answer keys)

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