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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 James see in the shoe shop?

2. Mama stayed up late before Daddy did what?

3. Who told Monsieur Bayonne to come over?

4. Where does James see the smoke coming out of while he is waiting in Chapter 1?

5. Who says "white beans and no salt meat ain't white beans"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does James say he had to kill the redbird?

2. Why does the lady at the dentist's office tell the Mama not to feel rejected?

3. What type of people are waiting in the dentist's office?

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

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

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

7. 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?

8. What does the man in the cafe do?

9. What does Mama and Auntie decide to do with the left over fifty cents Mama will have?

10. What are some of the things that James and his mother pass before they arrive at the dentist's office?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story, The Sky is Gray, James and his family are obviously poor. There are many things that James has never had or never will have in his lifetime. What things do you think James, Mama and the rest of the family have to work for that some people in the story (mainly white people) don't think twice about? What examples do you read about in the story to help you come to the conclusion that James' family is poor? How does this help you connect with James and with Mama? Use specific examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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