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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. Where do the children go when they leave Stamps?

2. What does Maya admire about Bailey?

3. What is one of Mrs. Cullinan's main problems?

4. What are girls in Stamps required to learn?

5. Who does Maya speak to finally after spending time with Mrs. Flowers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Maya say about childhood questions?

2. Describe Maya's thoughts as she watches the cotton pickers.

3. How does Momma believe black people should live in order to be safe?

4. Why is Saturday important to Maya?

5. Describe Bailey's hideaway and what he does there.

6. Why do people stay at Momma's after the fight?

7. Describe Mrs. Cullinan.

8. How does Bailey interact with people once they are back in Stamps?

9. What does Maya learn to understand, and later believe, about cotton pickers?

10. What are the only two rules Momma has about children?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maya learns hope and faith through her religious community but also learns fear and hate from living in a segregated and oppressive environment. How do you think the positive values of hope and faith can balance the fear and hate in Maya's life? Use examples from the book to illustrate your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Do you think Maya had to grow up too fast? Why? Use examples from the book to illustrate your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

With her grandmother's stern discipline and religion, her rape and abandonment by both her father and mother, and dealing with racism, Maya had a difficult childhood. How do you think that might have made her the person she became?

(see the answer keys)

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