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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. Who does James interview in his book?

2. What does Ruth says she suffers from because of her grandfather's death?

3. What was Ruth's maiden name?

4. What type of customers does Ruth's father overcharge?

5. What is Ruth's job at the bank?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ruth's life take a turn for the worse when the family moves to Virginia?

2. Why is Chapter 2 written in italics?

3. In what way was church always a joyous affair for both James and his mother?

4. How does Ruth respond when James asks what color God is?

5. Describe James' brother, Dennis.

6. Describe the cool father at the end of Chapter 4.

7. What are the problems in dating Peter?

8. How did Ruth and her family live in America when they first arrived?

9. How does James react to Hunter's death?

10. Describe the character of Daddy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick a character from the novel and discuss his goals and motives. Does he achieve his motive? Why? Does he share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do his goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does McBride use character and setting to express his themes?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the values of the 1960s.

1) Why did Afro American politics come to the fore during this time ?

2) What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3) Does today's society share any values with 1960s America?

(see the answer keys)

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