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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 the cousin that Darling describes living with in "Destroyedmichygen"?

2. Who is driving the car in “Hitting Crossroads"?

3. Whose diary did Darling find and read in the house where she cleans in "My America"?

4. What symbol is in white on the flag over the coffin in "For Real"?

5. Who is the owner of the house that Darling cleans for in "My America"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Darling's circumstances in "My America"?

2. What game do the children play after the funeral in "For Real"? How is the game described?

3. How does Darling describe her impressions of America in “Destroyedmichygen”?

4. How is the setting of Shadybrook nursing home described?

5. How is the character of Kristal described in the novel?

6. What do Darling and her friends do at J.C. Penney in "Hitting Crossroads"?

7. How does the narrative style in “How They Lived” stand apart from the other chapters in the novel?

8. Where is Darling living in “Destroyedmichygen”? With whom does she live?

9. How would you compare the settings of Detroit and Kalamazoo in We Need New Names?

10. What is illuminated through Darling's conversation with the white woman in the restroom in "Wedding"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss Darling's experiences in the white couple's house in "Blak Power." Who are the militant rebels that have destroyed the house and taken its owners hostage? Why have they done this? What observations do Darling and her friends make when they explore the house?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the political history of Zimbabwe from 1980 to the present. Who is the President of Zimbabwe? When did he come to power? What political unrest exists and has arisen in Zimbabwe's history?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motifs of religion, spirituality, and superstition in the novel. How would you compare the religious beliefs of Mother of Bones to those of Aunt Fostalina or Darling? What are examples in the text of rituals performed for superstitious reasons?

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This section contains 688 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample