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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. For how long has Delia been married to Sykes?
(a) 15 years.
(b) 7 years.
(c) 20 years.
(d) 10 years.

2. When Delia lies in bed mourning her lost love and friendship with her husband, she says it "is too late for everything" (2) except what?
(a) A change of scenery.
(b) Her children.
(c) Her self-respect.
(d) Her little home.

3. When Sykes declares how tired he is of Delia and leaves the house, what does he do on his way out?
(a) Slams the back gate.
(b) Bangs on the mailbox.
(c) Kicks the fence.
(d) Slams the front door.

4. The bullwhip is described by the narrator as long, round, limp, and what?
(a) Heavy.
(b) Black.
(c) Cold.
(d) Studded.

5. When Delia picks up an object and strikes a pose after being threatened by Sykes, what does the narrator state as the action that Sykes refrains from performing, though he usually would perform it right away in such a situation?
(a) Striking Delia.
(b) Leaving the house.
(c) Calling the magistrate.
(d) Yelling at Delia.

6. What substance does Delia demand that Sykes stop grinding into the clothes?
(a) Grime.
(b) Dust.
(c) Dirt.
(d) Mud.

7. What does Delia call Sykes's action of scaring her with the bullwhip?
(a) A sin.
(b) An injustice.
(c) A joke.
(d) A travesty.

8. About what task does Sykes state his lack of care about whether Delia ever gets the task done or not?
(a) Cooking dinner.
(b) Whitewashing the house.
(c) Sweeping.
(d) Laundry.

9. What does Delia mean when she says that she will stay in the house until she is "toted out foot foremost"? (2)
(a) Until she dies.
(b) Until she is arrested.
(c) Until the house burns down.
(d) Until she sells the house.

10. What adjective does the narrator use to describe Delia's washtub?
(a) Shiny.
(b) Galvanized.
(c) Rusty.
(d) Dented.

11. Who says he would have married Delia himself if Sykes had not beaten him to it?
(a) Elijah.
(b) Joe.
(c) Walter.
(d) Jim.

12. When the narrator states that Delia lies awake thinking about debris cluttering a certain kind of trail, what adjective is used to describe that trail?
(a) Philosophical.
(b) Lonely.
(c) Familial.
(d) Matrimonial.

13. Elijah says that Sykes has beaten Delia enough to kill how many women?
(a) 3.
(b) 5.
(c) 20.
(d) 10.

14. What does the narrator say that Delia is able to "build...against her husband" (3) after she decides that he will reap what he sows?
(a) A decadent shroud.
(b) A spiritual earthworks.
(c) A wall of hatred.
(d) A code of silence.

15. What simile does Walter use to describe how pretty Delia had been as a young woman?
(a) A speckled pup.
(b) A two-dollar ribbon.
(c) A peacock.
(d) A striped kitten.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the narrator say that the men on Joe's porch usually would do with the cane-knots if it were not so stiflingly hot outside?

2. What does Sykes tell Delia he will do if she argues with him about taking in white people's laundry?

3. On what day of the week does Delia collect and deliver clothes using her pony and buckboard?

4. Against what object does Sykes strike his match?

5. What does Delia tell Sykes will one day kill her?

(see the answer keys)

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