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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 is the name of the young man who entertains outside of Horner Homes?

2. What becomes stressful to LaJoe to the point of sleepless nights and severe headaches?

3. How does Pharoah work on his stutter?

4. How have the stadium's owners, the Wirz family, changed the character of the neighborhood?

5. What does Lafeyette hear someone was doing when he got his legs run over by a train?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the teacher's strike of 1988 affect Pharoah?

2. Point out the contradictions in the character of Jimmie Lee.

3. Explain the obsession Calvin Robinson has that Lafeyette finds interesting.

4. Describe the severity of Pharoah's speech impediment.

5. How does LaJoe's house become overcrowded?

6. How does Lafeyette's attitude change toward Rickey?

7. What are some of the serious problems with the construction of the Henry Horner homes?

8. Describe Pharoah's secret place.

9. When Lafeyette is caught shoplifting, how does LaJoe react?

10. Describe Lafeyette's academic qualities.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beginning with the positive influence Diana Barone had on Pharoah, write an essay about a particular teacher who inspired and influenced you. Be specific about things that teacher said and did which inspired you to be better at something. Maybe it was not scholastic excellence but some other aspect of your life the teacher impacted.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the causes of gangs and gang violence. What are the circumstances that cause young people to join gangs and subject themselves to gang authority? If gang authority is accepted, what are the reasons for rebelling against the authority of schools, the police, and the adult family members? Go deeper into the causes than just rebellion. Discuss things like personal safety, a need to belong, and a need to communicate.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on the subject of "Living in Fear." Beginning with the constant shootings and murders in the Chicago projects, expand that subject to other examples of people living in fear. Write about living in fear in ones own family because of an abusive family member. Also include examples like countries where genocide is a common practice and people of certain ethnic or tribal identities are in constant fear of being slaughtered.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 899 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample