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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. The narrator states in the Prologue, "I understand now that the only time black people don't feel guilty is when" what (18)?

2. One member of the Dum Dum Donut Intellectuals discusses his children being assigned what novel to read in school in Chapter 7?

3. The narrator describes the black Justice as looking at him with "that crazy, red-eyed penetrating look that back home we call" what (22)?

4. What does the narrator say that L.A. is about in Chapter 9?

5. What Californian fast food chain does the narrator describe newcomers being fascinated with in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the three basic laws of ghetto physics that the narrator describes in Chapter 3?

2. What does the narrator remark about mottos in the Prologue?

3. When and where do the Dum Dum Donut Intellectuals meet?

4. Who is Hampton Fiske and how is he described?

5. How did the community respond when the narrator began his process of marking the boundaries of Dickens?

6. How does the narrator describe Hominy's work on the farm in Chapter 6?

7. What happened when the narrator's father attempted an experiment on bystander syndrome when the narrator was a child?

8. Where does the narrator describe taking Hominy for "beatings" each Thursday?

9. What setting is established in the novel's Prologue? How is it described?

10. How does the narrator encounter Marpessa in Chapter 9? What emerges in their meeting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's use of symbolism and imagery in The Sellout. What are predominant symbols that reappear in the narrative? What does each represent? How does the author employ similes and metaphors? What are the effects of these examples?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the genre of satire and how it applies to The Sellout. What aspects of the novel's plot are satirical? In what ways? How does irony play a role in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the events on Career Day at the Chaff Middle School. What does Marpessa demonstrate for the students? What does the narrator's demonstration consist of? How does the day conclude?

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