View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Essie feel about the new apartment?
(a) She is hesitant.
(b) She is happy and thinks it came from God.
(c) She is despondent.
(d) Essie is ecstatic and grateful no matter where it came from.

2. About what is Essie worried?
(a) About how Laura seems ill.
(b) About the way Laura is carrying on.
(c) About how she can get out of the city with some money.
(d) About when she can bring her daughter to live with her.

3. What cliche does Laura quote to convince Essie?
(a) The Lord helps those who help themselves.
(b) Ask not and you get not.
(c) Ask and ye shall receive.
(d) The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

4. What does Essie do when Laura inspires her?
(a) Runs inside to get her Bible.
(b) Sings a gospel church.
(c) Jumps up and starts preaching.
(d) Faints.

5. What does Laura want to play a greater role in church services?
(a) Prayer.
(b) Music.
(c) Sermons.
(d) Healing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Essie's response to Laura's suggestion on buying the Bible?

2. What does Chicken-Crow-For-Day throw out the window?

3. What is Laura clutching at the end of the chapter as the two women make a decision?

4. Approximately when does Chapter 19 take place?

5. What is the reason for the time they arrive?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do you think the classic Aesop's fable about the tortoise and the hare seems to be a good metaphor for what is happening in Essie and Laura's life?

2. Of what might the serpent with eyes that sparkle like diamonds in Chapter 11 be symbolic?

3. Why do you think the author has Buddy proposing that the fake holy water they are selling be said to be water from the River Jordan?

4. At the beginning of Chapter 1, how are the two women described and what might be construed by these descriptions?

5. What is ironic about Laura's thoughts about Buddy in Chapter 30?

6. How does Laura seem to have her moment of transformation as she comes to jail and confronts Essie?

7. Assuming many images in a short novel such as this one can be significant, of what do you think Essie's knife could be symbolic?

8. Do you think Essie's journey towards spiritual enlightenment is helped or hindered by being thrown into jail?

9. Why do you think the drums always stop just before Laura makes her entrance?

10. How does the relationship between CJ and Marietta compare to that of Laura and Buddy in Chapters 26 and 27?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,305 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample