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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 cataloge is popular at the Yamacraw school?

2. What unique style of teaching does Pat Conroy use to share information with his class?

3. Pat Conroy threatens to do what to anyone who doesn't want to hear the national news?

4. Who protests the showing of films to students?

5. The students thought the word Conroy was what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pat Conroy convince the parents of Yamacraw to send their children to South Carolina for Halloween?

2. What revelation helps Pat Conroy realize the Stones are frighteningly racist?

3. For what purpose does Pat Conroy attempt to give the students a classical music education?

4. Although Mrs. Brown bans Joe and Jim from the school due to a lack of credentials, what is her real concern about their presence in the classroom?

5. Physically describe Bennington.

6. Why are the children of Yamacraw interested in the movie about the Salem Witch Trials?

7. Why did Ted Stone close his restaurant?

8. Why does Pat Conroy express surprise upon learning that children of Yamacraw never celebrate Halloween?

9. What does Bennington say about his personal relationship with colored people?

10. What does Bennington warn Pat Conroy of on his first expedition to the island?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the relationships between whites and blacks during the time period of "The Water is Wide."

1) What time period is it and what is happening politically in the United States?

2) How do whites feel about blacks?

3) How do blacks feel about whites?

Essay Topic 2

Create an argument for or against the following statement, citing examples from the text: Pat Conroy fails to set an example against racism on Yamacraw Island.

Essay Topic 3

Create a detailed portrait of the educational opportunities offered to the blacks on Yamacraw island.

1) What is the state of education?

2) What public resources are available, and are they ironic?

3) How can the residents of Yamacraw put into practice the education they receive?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 624 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample