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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 county is listed on the wanted notice that begins "North Carolina"?

2. What is the name of the station master's daughter who visits him while Cora hides in the attic in "North Carolina"?

3. What ward of the dormitory is relegated to those with "nervous disorders" in "South Carolina"?

4. Who is the owner of the saloon the Drift?

5. Who was Caesar's kindly Northern owner that taught him to read?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Cora manage to escape the train station in the beginning of "North Carolina"?

2. What is revealed of Dr. Stevens's secret nighttime activities in "Stevens"?

3. Where does Cora stay to remain hidden in "North Carolina"? How is this setting described?

4. What does Ajarry's garden plot mean to Cora?

5. Why does Sam suggest that Cora and Caesar need to get back on the train going north in "South Carolina"?

6. What is Cora's job at the Museum of Natural Wonders?

7. How does Cora come to feel about her mother as the novel progresses?

8. What do Cora and Caesar discuss when they first meet at the social in "South Carolina"?

9. What happens when Cora goes to the train station in the end of "South Carolina"?

10. How is the "Underground Railroad" itself presented in the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the historical context of The Underground Railroad. What were the laws and regulations like in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Indiana at this time historically? How important is it to understand the historical context in order to follow the novel's plot?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of Valentine farm. Where is the farm located? Who works the land on the farm? How are the living conditions on the farm described?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of racism and history in The Underground Railroad. How does the author develop these themes through character and setting? What symbolism relates to these themes? How does the author explore these themes through action and plot development?

(see the answer keys)

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