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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Blakely told Elwood that the younger boys at Nickel were called by what name for an inexplicable reason?
(a) Janes.
(b) Suits.
(c) Chucks.
(d) Rents.

2. From what material were the buildings on Nickel's property composed?
(a) Wood.
(b) Stone.
(c) Metal.
(d) Brick.

3. On what "side" of the Nickel Academy's property was the "secret graveyard" (3) discovered?
(a) West.
(b) South.
(c) East.
(d) North.

4. Phil the houseman told Elwood and the other boys at the scene of the fight that which character would soon hear of the incident?
(a) Spencer.
(b) Blakely.
(c) Harper.
(d) The social worker.

5. Though Mr. Marconi had already carried black magazines in his shop, Elwood got him to order what other items tailored to the black community's needs?
(a) Black hair products.
(b) Artwork by black visual artists.
(c) Novels by black writers.
(d) Black newspapers.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which student was often moved back and forth between the white campus and black campus of Nickel during Elwood's incarceration?

2. What machine was used to mask the screams of the boys as they were punished within the White House?

3. Once Elwood started to work for Mr. Marconi, Harriet put half of his wages toward household expenses and saved the other half for what expense?

4. The end of the Prologue introduces Elwood the Nickel Boy in what way?

5. The first line of the Prologue of The Nickel Boys states that "Even in death, the boys were" (3) what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Whitehead use personification to depict the way that Harriet tried not to get her hopes up about the progress the black community might make in the wake of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision?

2. What disappointing news did Blakely reveal to Elwood about educational opportunities at Nickel?

3. Who was Elwood and what event prompted him to need to return to Nickel?

4. In what way did the grounds of Nickel surprise Elwood upon his arrival and what is this detail's significance?

5. What does the industrial fan within Chapter 6 symbolize and with what theme does Whitehead connect the fan?

6. For what purpose does Whitehead allude to Life magazine within Chapter 2?

7. Which two momentous events happened on Elwood's second day at Nickel, as announced at the start of Chapter 5?

8. For what purpose does Whitehead allude to The Andy Griffith Show in Chapter 7?

9. What Christmas present did Elwood receive in 1962 that the narrator described as "the best gift of his life" (11)?

10. How many boys were incarcerated at Nickel at the time of Elwood's arrival and in what way was the campus divided into two?

(see the answer keys)

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