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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. For how many nights was Elwood permitted to sleep in his own home between his sentencing and his departure for Nickel?
(a) 7.
(b) 2.
(c) 14.
(d) 3.

2. While the black inmates of Nickel called the building used for whippings "the White House," who called the building "the Ice Cream Factory" (66)?
(a) The housemen of Nickel.
(b) The white inmates of Nickel.
(c) Spencer.
(d) The cooks of Nickel.

3. Which two classes did Elwood miss on his very first day of educational instruction at Nickel?
(a) Art class and shop class.
(b) Math class and history class.
(c) Music class and drama class.
(d) Science class and English class.

4. For how many years had the Nickel Academy been closed when the college students located the secret cemetery on its grounds?
(a) 12 years.
(b) 4 months.
(c) 24 years.
(d) 3 years.

5. Former Nickel Boys are said in the Prologue to have organized support groups in "recent years" (5) in order to reassemble their memories into "confirmation of a shared" (5) what?
(a) Darkness.
(b) Unity.
(c) Haunting.
(d) Past.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who warned Elwood not to move while he was being punished for his perceived involvement in fighting?

2. When Elwood joined the A and M students in a protest during his junior year, they were all fighting to integrate what type of establishments?

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

4. Elwood became transfixed by the photo essays published in which magazine sold in Mr. Marconi's shop?

5. What parts of the Nickel Boys' bodies were whipped with the strap referred to as "Black Beauty" (68)?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does the theme of collectivism arise within the Prologue of The Nickel Boys?

2. For what reason was Elwood unable to get a full night's sleep the day of his arrival at Nickel?

3. In what way does Whitehead employ foreshadowing about Superintendent Spencer's character?

4. What happened to prevent Elwood from attending his first class at Marvin Griggs Technical?

5. Describe Elwood's family, as it is presented in Chapters 1 through 3.

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

7. What examples does the narrator use to back up the claim that Harriet was rarely able to "make proper goodbyes to her loved ones" (70)?

8. Who was Mr. Hill?

9. Who or what was Black Beauty within the twisted world of Nickel?

10. In what way does Whitehead intertwine the motif of dreams with the theme of escape within Chapter 7?

(see the answer keys)

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