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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 new pill does Skeeter read about in the newspaper in chapter 19 that is hailed as a pill 'to help women cope with everyday challenges'?

2. With whom does Skeeter plan to share the advance money and subsequent royalty payments with?

3. What excuse does Aibileen think Skeeter will use for the toilet confusion at Hilly Holbrook's house?

4. Who tells Aibileen to stay away from Skeeter if she wants to keep her job?

5. Who is Pascagoula's cousin?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 28, Skeeter goes shopping and finally finds her own style. What style is that? What has inspired it?

2. Who shows up at Elizabeth Leefolt's door in chapter 23 to buy tickets to the League's Children's Benefit? Why is this potentially a disaster for Minny and Aibileen?

3. What does Hilly tell Skeeter to publish in the League newsletter or she will throw her out of the league?

4. Why does Skeeter feel it is important to change the location and names in the book she is writing?

5. What does Celia tell her husband, Johnny Foote, that prompts him to tell Minny she will have a job for life in chapter 30?

6. In chapter 24, Minny fights with a naked man in the Foote's backyard. Who is the man? Why is Minny fighting him? What happens?

7. Why does Celia threaten to leave her husband in chapter 26? How does Minny talk her out of it?

8. What does Minny insist on adding to her section of the book? For what reason?

9. Who has Skeeter started dating in chapter 19? Why does she refuse to go to Biloxi with him?

10. In chapter 22, it is Mae Mobley's birthday. What kind of cake does Aibileen want to make? Why? What kind does Elizabeth Leefolt insist on Aibileen making?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

What does Skeeter do that causes her to lose all her friends? Why did Skeeter do this? What did it prove? Did it change anything? How does Skeeter feel about this change in her social life? Is Skeeter saddened by the loss of her friends? Did Skeeter truly consider Hilly her friend? How do Aibileen and Minny feel about what has happened to Skeeter? How does this treatment of Skeeter by those in Jackson force her to make a life altering decision? How does this ousting by the social caste compare to Celia Foote's place in Jackson society? Why do you think the author felt the need to create two such parallel characters?

Essay Topic 3

How does the book Skeeter and Aibileen wrote reflect the time period in which the novel is written? How does the writer use actual historical events to reflect the racial tension in Jackson during the time in which the book is set and how these events impacted the lives of the main characters of this book? What might a book like The Help have impacted the lives of those really living in Jackson Mississippi during this time period? What might have been the consequences to a maid like Aibileen? What consequence does Aibileen suffer? How does the book help Aibileen have the courage and the power to stand up to Hilly? What does this say about the changes that take place in the novel for Aibileen and the other maids in Jackson?

(see the answer keys)

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