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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What terrible event did Lutie witness on Christmas Day at the Chandlers'?
(a) She witnessed Mrs. Chandler slap Mr. Chandler in the face.
(b) She watched as the Chandler's son threw a temper tantrum over his Christmas gifts.
(c) She witnessed Mr. Chandler's brother shoot himself beside the Christmas tree while everyone was in the room.
(d) She watched Mr. Chandler fly into a drunken rage.

2. What type of business does Mrs. Hedges run?
(a) A daycare.
(b) A hair salon.
(c) A whorehouse.
(d) A bootleg liquor operation.

3. What does Lutie fantasize about while standing outside the super's apartment?
(a) Lutie fantasizes about cots in the hallway to accommodate more renters and about the woman in the window being a snake charmer.
(b) Lutie fantasizes about running out of the apartment building and finding a better place to live.
(c) Lutie fantasizes about Bub getting into trouble inside the apartment building.
(d) Lutie fantasizes about the appearance of the superintendent--she imagines him being extremely tall and gruesome looking.

4. Why does Lutie visit Junto's?
(a) To escape her apartment.
(b) To find a new husband.
(c) To hide from Bub.
(d) To gossip with the women.

5. What does Boots remind Lutie of?
(a) Of a dog in heat.
(b) Of a cat stalking its prey.
(c) Of a stand-up man.
(d) Of a foolish man with an outrageous dream.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Jones feel about Mrs. Hedges?

2. Where is Boots' band scheduled to perform?

3. Which character is the first to be introduced?

4. Why does Bub ask Lutie if he can read while she's at The Casino?

5. What did Lutie find when she entered her home after receiving her father's letter?

Short Essay Questions

1. The author paints Jones as an obsessive character. He snoops around Lutie's apartment fantasizing about her and bothering her possessions. What does this behavior seem to foreshadow?

2. Who does Lutie hold responsible for the end of her marriage?

3. Why does Lutie refuse to wear the blouse crushed by Jones?

4. Chapter 4 more clearly depicts Jones' obsession with Lutie. In fact, "she made him more aware of his loneliness that ate into him day and night." How might Lutie's mere appearance open up such a void in Jones?

5. Chapter 1 opens with the description of a cold and windy day in New York City. Why might the author have chosen to describe the wind through personification?

6. While riding with Boots, Lutie comes to the conclusion that it would be better to be born with no brain than to understand everything you cannot reach. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

7. Chapter 2 provides Lutie with a valuable lesson: "Anybody could be rich if he wanted to and worked hard enough and figured it out carefully enough." Still, Lutie is often discouraged by the world around her. How does the external world affect Lutie's internal life?

8. How does chapter 3 illustrate the racism and sexism faced by Lutie? Provide at least 1 example of each.

9. Lutie slaps Bub when she sees him with a shoe shining kit. Why does a shoe shining kit inspire such rage in Lutie?

10. After leaving Jim, Lutie never reaches out to him again. How does this single fact reflect Lutie's strength?

(see the answer keys)

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