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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. From which of the following does Malachi write Moshe?

2. With which of the following does Moshe bribe the local fire chief?

3. How does the text gloss the term “mikvah”?

4. To which of the following had Shad Davis intended to send his children?

5. What game does Chona teach Bernice?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Malachi maintain Black Americans have an advantage?

2. How does Isaac stereotype Bulgarians?

3. Why does Chona have standing among the local Jewish community?

4. Why does the local Black community esteem Chona?

5. What rumor surrounds Norman Skrupskelis?

6. What event precipitates Bernice leaving school?

7. What had attracted the Black population of Pottstown to Pottstown?

8. Why did Moshe have trouble advertising his first major show?

9. Why is Paper thought to be illiterate?

10. Why does Chona speak against her teacher on Bernice’s behalf?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

McBride depicts Doc Roberts falling into line with a local hate group. What lesson might be taken away from the depiction? What in the text supports that lesson, and how does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are given but one name, while others are given first- and surnames, and still others are accorded names and titles. What significance, if any, accrues to patterns of naming in the novel? If no significance accrues, what purpose might be served by the patterns of naming in the novel? How does The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store bear as much out?

Essay Topic 3

To what other writer’s work in your experience does McBride’s seem most similar? What makes the writers similar? What differentiates them? Overall, which do you regard as doing better at the craft of writing, and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 513 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample