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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 Reverend Howard Thomas?

2. What do Maya and her best friend call the language that they create?

3. Where does Maya say a person's values and opinions are formed?

4. What happens to Mr. Freedman after court?

5. How old is Maya when she goes to work for Mrs. Cullinan?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the children's father do when he takes them from Stamps?

3. How does Maya see Mrs. Flowers and how does she feel about her?

4. What does Maya say she learns from her mother's family?

5. Why are people gathered at the store in Chapter 19 and why are the children excited?

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

7. How does Maya feel about coming back to Stamps and what does she learn from the blacks there?

8. Describe Maya's reaction to her first Valentine.

9. As a child, how does Maya view herself physically?

10. What are black girls supposed to learn in Stamps and how do they learn it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There were many reasons Maya did not fit into school or home. What do you think she could have done to fit in better at her white school? What could the other children have done to help?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

When Maya's grandmother told Willie about her trip to the white dentist they both felt she had won the encounter. What do you think and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 825 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample