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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. With whom is the woman walking home at the start of "Thank You, Ma'am"?

2. What does the woman do to the purse thief in paragraph one after trying to steal her purse?

3. How does the woman respond to the boy's explanation for why he wanted to steal her purse?

4. About how old is the boy who tries to steal the woman's purse?

5. How is the boy described as looking?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the boy say when the woman asks if he will run if she turns him loose? What does she say to his response?

2. What does the woman demand from the boy after he tries to steal her purse?

3. How is the woman describe at the start of "Thank You, Ma'am"? What does she look like? What does she have with her? What time is it?

4. What do passersby do while the woman is talking to the boy after he tried to steal her purse?

5. How old is the boy? How is he described physically?

6. What does the woman say to the boy when he tells her she was not bothering him when she walking down the street?

7. How does the woman react to the boy's action at the start of the story?

8. What does the woman say to the boy when he tells her he was not trying to steal her purse?

9. What does the boy say to the woman when she asks if he has anybody at home to tell him to wash his face? What does the woman say she will do after he replies?

10. What does the woman say about the boy's face after he tries to apologize to her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick a character from the story and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing narrative voice in Hughes of “Thank You, Ma’am.” Include thoughts on how the narrative voice of the story is effective in conveying the story’s themes.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the symbolic significance the boy's economic status has on the story. Why is this important and how does it develop the themes of the story? What would be different if he were wealthy? Use examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

(see the answer keys)

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