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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 what building at Nickel was the basement termed "Lovers' Lane" located?

2. Chickie Pete suffered from an addiction to what substance?

3. In what month did Elwood first move to New York City?

4. The narrator states that for the Nickel boys, "to forbid the thought of escape mean to" take what action against "one's humanity" (145)?

5. Turner told Elwood that only boys with what quality were ever taken "out back" (103)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What "fifth way out of Nickel" (153) did Elwood devise in Chapter 12?

2. What physical problem of Elwood's is described in Chapter 11?

3. What event caused Elwood to decide to put into motion his plan to "get rid of Nickel" (157)?

4. The narrator begins Chapter 12 by stating that "There were four ways out of Nickel" (144). What were they?

5. Which staff member at Nickel did Elwood name as the man he would like to poison?

6. How was Griff punished for his mistake in the boxing match?

7. What quality did Harper name as the most important one for a Community Service work detail member to possess?

8. How did Elwood meet Denise?

9. How did Elwood discover that Griff had been instructed by Superintendent Spencer to throw the boxing match?

10. In what way does Whitehead employ foreshadowing in relation to the story about the escapee named Clayton Smith?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Whitehead's purpose for juxtaposing at least two different locations in a particular way within the text of The Nickel Boys. Examples could include locations such as the white side of the Nickel campus versus the black side of the Nickel campus or Marvin Griggs Technical College versus Nickel's ancient schoolhouse.

Essay Topic 2

What message does Whitehead send within the pages of The Nickel Boys concerning the link between oppression and brutality?

Essay Topic 3

What ultimate message is Whitehead sending about the nature and value of compassion?

(see the answer keys)

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