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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. What does the boy say when the woman asks if he is hungry?

2. What do passersby do when they see the boy and the woman?

3. What does the boy say to the woman when she asks him why he wanted to steal her purse?

4. What does the boy say he will do if the woman lets go of him?

5. Who is the author of "Thank You, Ma'am"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

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

5. 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?

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. 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?

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

9. What two questions does the woman ask the boy after he tries to steal her purse and how does he reply?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss each character and the conflicts they encounter in the story. How do they handle their conflicts? What does this say about the character?

Essay Topic 2

Define setting and discuss the significance of Hughes' choice of setting in "Thank You, Ma'am."

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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