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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. Why do they rarely see Rickey anymore?

2. How is Craig killed?

3. What does LaJoe witness that makes her put her foot down with Lafeyette?

4. Why do the families of the boys refuse to pay damages for the truck?

5. What was the result of Lafeyette's fall down some stairs?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens at the hearing in spite of Anne Rhodes' telling the judge she does not think Lafeyette is guilty?

2. How do Pharoah and Lafeyette happen to run into Rickey on their way for a treat?

3. Describe what Pharoah sees as the boys are eating their food outside the Main Street hot dog stand.

4. Describe Lafeyette's frame of mind at Craig's funeral.

5. Why is Lafeyette put in charge of the children and what is his behavior like?

6. Why does Pharoah stay up all night on December 30th?

7. Why does LaJoe's mother move out and how do the boys feel about her moving?

8. What does Rickey do that displeases LaJoe?

9. How does Pharoah prepare for the next spelling bee?

10. How does LaJoe remember the day Terrence was sentenced since Terrence had requested that she not come to court that day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Twenty years after the events in 1989 involving Pharoah and his drive for an education, America elected its first African-American President who, interestingly, got his first job working in the Chicago housing projects. Write an essay about how young people like Pharoah began seeing greater opportunities during the last two decades.

(see the answer keys)

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