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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. In chapter 15, who accuses Aibileen of not teaching Mae Mobley manners?

2. Why does Aibileen say in chapter 1 that Miss Leefolt cannot soothe her own baby?

3. Who does Skeeter ask Aibileen about at the end of chapter 1?

4. How old was Treelore when he died?

5. What gesture would Constantine use to let Skeeter knew she wanted her to pay close attention to her?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 10, Celia locks herself in the bathroom and yells at Minny when she comes to change the bedsheets. What does this and other odd behaviors say about Celia?

2. Who does Aibileen go to work for at the beginning of the novel? What happened just a few months before she accepted this job?

3. Who is killed blocks from Aibileen's home? What is the aftermath of this death?

4. What letter does Skeeter receive in chapter 6 that inspires her to begin searching for a writing job and to find unique topics to write about?

5. Who is Constantine? What does Skeeter think happened to her?

6. What does Hilly Holbrook ask Aibileen that she feels she must answer honestly for Mae Mobley's sake? Why does Hilly ask this question of Aibileen?

7. What does Miss Celia do that Minny finds odd? Why does Minny have trouble teaching Miss Celia to cook?

8. Why does Skeeter begin visiting Aibileen at Mrs. Leefolt's house? What does Skeeter talk to Aibileen about?

9. What does Aibileen write in her small notebook? How did she get into this habit?

10. How does the first interview between Skeeter and Aibileen go? What does Skeeter think will happen next?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Minny think Celia is crazy? What does Celia spend her days doing? How is this different from the behavior of the other women Minny has worked for? Why does Celia escape into the second floor of her home several times a day? What does Minny think she is doing up there? What is Celia really doing up there? What is the cause of Celia's odd behaviors? Why do none of the women in Jackson accept Celia into their social circle? What does Celia believe the problem is? How does she go about fixing it? What happens? What story does Minny tell Celia that appears to help her understand the women of Jackson better?

Essay Topic 2

What does Skeeter's mother constantly complain about in regards to her daughter's appearance? How does this make Skeeter feel? How does this reflect on Skeeter's lack of romantic experience? At what age do most of the girls Skeeter is friends with get married? What does it say about Skeeter that she is not married? What does Skeeter want to do with her life? What obstacles are in Skeeter's way that might not have been in a more modern setting? What does it say about Skeeter that she disregards her mother's advice and pursues her desire to have a career?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Skeeter make it Aibileen's job to ask other maids to help with their book? How many does Aibileen ask? How many initially agree to help? What causes the reaction Aibileen receives from the other maids? What does Aibileen tell the reader a white woman might do to a maid who speaks out about their treatment in a private home? What impact could this situation cause to a maid and her family? Why does Aibileen not fear these consequences?

(see the answer keys)

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