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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. About what type of violence does the poem entitled "Who but the Lord" revolve?
(a) Police brutality.
(b) Military operations.
(c) Domestic violence.
(d) Schoolyard bullying.

2. What term does Hughes use to describe the Mexican Market Woman in the first line of the poem of the same title?
(a) Crone.
(b) Queen.
(c) Seer.
(d) Hag.

3. What is the second business that the speaker of the poem "Madam's Past History" had tried to run?
(a) A barber shop.
(b) A bookstore.
(c) A barbecue stand.
(d) A bar.

4. The speaker of the poem "Merry-Go-Round" asks about the whereabouts of what section on the Merry-Go-Round?
(a) The dragon section.
(b) The Jim Crow section.
(c) The children's section.
(d) The colored section.

5. The speaker of the poem "The South" says at the end of the poem that he will soon seek the North, for he has heard it said that the North is what?
(a) A more welcoming host.
(b) A more scrupulous government.
(c) A more intelligent host.
(d) A kinder mistress.

6. What is the main metaphor running through the narrative of the poem "Mother to Son"?
(a) Stairs.
(b) Clouds.
(c) Sunshine.
(d) Telephones.

7. To whom does the speaker of the poem "The Negro Mother" speak?
(a) Future America.
(b) Her mother.
(c) Her children.
(d) Her nieces.

8. What are the four stanza titles within the poem "A House in Taos"?
(a) Rain, sleet, moon, and wind.
(b) Rain, snow, moon, and wind.
(c) Rain, sun, moon, and wind.
(d) Rain, hail, moon, and wind.

9. The poem entitled "Cross" focuses on the experience of what type of person?
(a) Developmentally disabled.
(b) Biracial.
(c) Enslaved.
(d) Religious.

10. The poem entitled "Snail" states that the snail knows two things. What are they?
(a) Weather and roses.
(b) Sun and rain.
(c) Sky and sand.
(d) Roses and grass.

11. What type of business had the speaker of the poem "Madam's Past History" run for a while before moving on to a different business?
(a) A restaurant.
(b) A bookstore.
(c) A bar.
(d) A hair salon.

12. The poem entitled "Share-Croppers" contains how many stanzas?
(a) 4.
(b) 3.
(c) 6.
(d) 8.

13. The poem "America" focuses on which two marginalized groups?
(a) African-Americans and Jewish-Americans.
(b) African-Americans and gay people.
(c) African-Americans and Mexican-Americans.
(d) African-Americans and women.

14. What country is NOT mentioned within the poem entitled "Good Morning Revolution"?
(a) Africa.
(b) Cuba.
(c) China.
(d) Poland.

15. What type of crop is being harvested in the poem entitled "Share-Croppers"?
(a) Cotton.
(b) Wheat.
(c) Blueberries.
(d) Corn.

Short Answer Questions

1. The poem entitled "Love" describes the emotion of love as what kind of a wonder?

2. The speaker of the poem "Heart of Harlem" describes Harlem as "a tear you turn into a" (73) what?

3. The poem "Daybreak in Alabama" features a speaker who hopes to one day be what?

4. What type of literary device is used throughout the poem entitled "Joy"?

5. What phrase is repeated three times in the poem entitled "In Time of Silver Rain"?

(see the answer keys)

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