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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. How does Lutie feel about Bub shining shoes?
(a) She thinks the job reflects Bub's low self esteem.
(b) She thinks it's a healthy way to teach him some responsibility.
(c) She thinks it's inappropriate for a young boy to have a job while in school.
(d) She believes if he shines shoes at this age, he'll be performing other low paying menial jobs when he's a grown man.

2. What does Boots invite Lutie to do?
(a) Work as a barmaid at Junto's.
(b) Audition for a band.
(c) Play songs on the jukebox for free.
(d) Have free drinks all night long.

3. Which best illustrates how Lutie shared the news about her new job at the Chandlers' with Jim?
(a) She read Jim the letter in a monotone voice, sure not to express her joy.
(b) She expressed the contents of the letter with Jim and explained how happy she was.
(c) She showed Jim the letter and jumped into his arms with excitement.
(d) She showed Jim the letter but did not share her joy.

4. Why does Min's visit to David go so well?
(a) She enjoys the smell of the root doctor's dwellings.
(b) She is able to rest her feet.
(c) She has never had anyone to really listen to her and David does this.
(d) She thinks David is very handsome and asks him on a date.

5. What did the letter from Lutie's father say?
(a) "Dear Lutie: You better come home. Bub's grades are suffering since you've been gone.
(b) "Dear Lutie: You better come home. Jim's been carrying on with another woman. Pop."
(c) "Dear Lutie: You better come home. Lil has passed away and I need your help."
(d) "Dear Lutie: You better come home. Jim's found a job and there's no need for you to work so much anymore."

Short Answer Questions

1. What saves Lutie from Boots' first exhibition of his sexual intentions?

2. What do Mrs. Chandler's mother and her white friends seem to believe about black women?

3. How does Bub feel about being slapped by Lutie?

4. What does Jones do when Lutie tries to unchain him in her dream?

5. Why did Lutie limit her visits home when working for the Chandlers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Lutie failed, up until Chapter 9, to consider that Bub might be afraid of staying home alone?

2. How does Lutie feel after being offered the job of singer in Boots' band? What does she know for sure after the offer?

3. Lutie secures the job at the Chandlers', but she is unable to share her joy with her husband. Why is this?

4. Jones becomes enraged when he looks at Bub and imagines that the boy resembles his father. Why do you think this is?

5. In Chapter 2, Lutie returns from Mrs. Chandler's and arrives in Harlem relieved to be away from white people. How does Lutie believe that white women and men look at her?

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

7. Chapter 5 introduces the relationship between Mrs. Hedges and Min. How would you describe this relationship? Why does Min finds refuge in Mrs. Hedges?

8. 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?

9. Chapter 2 introduces Mrs. Pizzini as the character who provides a letter of reference for Lutie. Mrs. Pizzini shares some advice with Lutie about the effects of working while raising a family: "It's best that the man do the work when the babies are young. And when the man is young. Not good for the woman to work when she's young. Not good for the man." Why does Lutie originally brush Mrs. Pizzini off and then later recall the advice over and over again?

10. Considering Lutie's failed marriage and Jim's inability to provide for his family, what sort of future does Boots offers Lutie?

(see the answer keys)

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