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

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

3. What does the woman tell the boy she is going to do for him that evening?

4. What does the boy call the woman when he apologizes to her?

5. How is the boy described as looking?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does someone try to do to the woman as she is walking down the street at the start of the story?

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

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

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

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 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?

9. What does the woman tell the boy she would do if she was his mother? What does she say is the least she can do for him since she is not his mother?

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

Look at the structure of the story. How does the author use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Hughes' focus on kindness and compassion as presented in the story.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the narrative structure of “Thank You, Ma’am.” What effect does this have on the story and the reader? Use direct examples from the story to support your analysis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 723 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample