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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. Who is Melba's secret crush?

2. Where was Melba instructed to go if anyone broke into their house?

3. Where was Judge Davies from?

4. Who was the Arkansas president of the NAACP in 1957?

5. What was the "sole voice" of Little Rock's African American community in 1957?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Melba's first impression of the inside of Central High School?

2. What did Melba do before she got in her mother's car for the first day of school at Central High School in Little Rock?

3. How did Melba arrive to Central High School on her third attempt?

4. Describe Grandma India's bedroom.

5. Who were the boys who were part of the integration effort?

6. Who came to the Pattillo house the day after the first attempt at integration?

7. Why did Mrs. Bates shush Melba in Chapter Nine?

8. When the author arrived for the 1987 reunion, what was the most astounding evidence that things had changed?

9. Why did Melba want to meet Governor Faubus face to face?

10. Who was the first judge who ruled on the integration case in Little Rock? What was his background?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In 1954, the monumental court case, Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court stated that "separate but equal" was now unconstitutional and that public schools must integrate. What was the "separate but equal" doctrine and why was it impossible to have both "separate" and "equal"? Why was this decision significant for Melba and her family?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the effect of the experiences at Central High upon the Little Rock Nine as adults.

Essay Topic 3

School integration isn't as volatile an issue any more. Choose to write about other types of segregration present in schools today or whether racism against African Americans is still an issue that needs attention. Be certain to support your essay with facts.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 809 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample