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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. Which was the highest slave-breeding state?

2. Most of the time when a slave was going to be __________, he/she _____________ know about it in advance.

3. Who told the account of a man named Gabe?

4. What was the title for the trusted slave that would often help administer whippings to other slaves?

5. Which of the following were not one of the people who would administer a whipping to a slave?

Short Essay Questions

1. What story did Frank Cooper tell and what was its importance?

2. After emancipation, what did many of the ex-slaves to do attempt to survive? Did this work?

3. Describe the reaction of the anonymous white man who mentions being awakened by the overseer's horn in Chapter 3.

4. What were some ways that the slaves celebrated and had fun?

5. Discuss the story of Lev Cheney.

6. Briefly discuss the treatment of Ben Simpson mother by their master in Chapter 2.

7. Why was the Civil War declared and by which President?

8. In Chapter 5, what does the story of Paul symbolize?

9. What kept the slaves working in the fields day in and day out?

10. What was Julius Lester's purpose for writing "To Be a Slave" and did he accomplish it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a very long narrative about a slave named Paul in the novel. Give a brief summary about the story. Why is it included in the novel? Discuss what Paul symbolizes. What happens to Paul in the end? Discuss the reason for Paul's decision for his own life and how the narrator of Paul's story feels about it. Do you agree with Paul's decision? Why or why not? The narrator notes the iron collar around Paul's neck. What does it symbolize? The narrator also notes the three bells. What do they symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

Sorrow was a major emotion felt by the slaves. Describe what sorrow is and what made the slaves feel this way. Did they always feel sorrow? Why or why not? What did they do in attempts to overcome or mask their sadness?

Essay Topic 3

The concept of family is something that is very important to most people. How did family play a role in the lives of slaves? Were they allowed to have one? Oftentimes slave owners separated families by selling them. Discuss the emotions felt by the slaves during these moments and how the slave owners and traders treated the slaves when separating them from their family members. How would the slave traders and owners feel if it were their children that were the ones being sold away? Many times the slave owners fathered children by their slave women. How did they treat their half-black children? Did they treat them as their son or daughter or as a slave? How did this treatment affect the children? Discuss the story of Powhatan Mitchell and what it signifies. How was Mitchell unique?

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