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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 does the sheriff use to break Johnny's knee?

2. Who visits Taylor in this section?

3. Who does Taylor say wants to take over the church?

4. What is the name of the main character in this story?

5. What do the sheriff's men throw over Sue?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the sheriff break Johnny's ear drum?

2. What does Brother Bond say has happened to the Communists?

3. How does Sarah stop her baby from crying in Chapter 14?

4. How does Sue react to the white men in her kitchen?

5. What are Hadley and Green worried about in Chapter 18?

6. What idea does Sue have in Chapter 25?

7. What does Sue see when she first gains consciousness?

8. What problems does Sue have with Booker in Chapter 24?

9. What does Sarah think about on the hillside?

10. Why does Silas get angry in Chapter 15?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

All the stories in the book are written in the third person. Why do you think Wright chose to write in the third person? How do you think the meaning of the book would change if it were written in the first person?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the connotations of the word "nigger."

1) What is its original meaning and what has it come to mean?

2) Why is it now considered so wrong to use?

3) Do you think the word has become too powerful?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the whites' oppression of black people.

1) In what way could it be said that it was to the whites' benefit that they keep the black people down?

2) How much of the oppression was pure racism and how much was it due to fear? What did the white man fear?

3) In what way could it be said the equality between races has benefited society?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 755 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample