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. What is distracting Laura from listening to Essie?
(a) Laura is too busy worrying about where she's going to get some gambling money and wine.
(b) Laura is talking to a pimp.
(c) Laura is trying to figure out how to seduce the new man down the block.
(d) Laura is talking on the phone.

2. What does Essie want to discuss with Laura?
(a) Bringing Essie's daughter there.
(b) Taking the bus to Brooklyn to visit Essie's mother.
(c) The idea for the church.
(d) Getting a preaching license from city hall.

3. How does Essie describe the Bible she finds?
(a) Large, ornately decorated, and expensive.
(b) Worn but functional.
(c) Small and easily held.
(d) One that has pictures.

4. What happens after Essie joins in on the song?
(a) Laura stops and starts to pass the hat.
(b) Essie becomes inspired and everyone gets quiet to hear her.
(c) Someone yells at them to be quiet.
(d) Others join.

5. Who has not yet bought any holy water?
(a) Chicken-Crow-For-Day.
(b) Birdie Lee.
(c) Essie.
(d) Buddy.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Laura begin to sing?

2. What does Laura want from Essie the next morning?

3. What does Essie think Laura should be thinking?

4. What becomes the two women's church?

5. Who does the painting of Adam resemble in Laura's imagination?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What do you think the tambourines represent and why it is the title of the book?

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

4. Do you believe Buddy really is upset that Essie does seem to believe his conversion is sincere?

5. In Chapter 21, narration expounds on what it means to go "North" to Southern Negroes; summarize narrations statements.

6. What does Laura suggest near the end of chapter eight that seems to set the dynamics of how Essie and Laura participate in the "church" and what do you think might be the consequences?

7. Laura needs Buddy to be softer and more loving. Does this surprise you and do you think Buddy is capable of that?

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

9. What do you think one of the main themes might be just based upon the differences in the two major characters as shown in this opening chapter?

10. Just as Laura says she is like her mother in many ways, in what ways does Laura contrast herself to her mother?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,226 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample