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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Mattie tell her father about the father of her unborn child?
(a) It is not Fred's baby
(b) It is not Eddie's baby
(c) It is not Marlon's baby
(d) It is not Butch's baby

2. What does Butch invite Mattie to do?
(a) Go for a drive
(b) Pick herbs and sugar cane
(c) Go to the movies
(d) Play baseball

3. Of what does a cooking odor remind Mattie?
(a) BBQ ribs
(b) Spaghetti
(c) Fudge
(d) Sugar cane

4. What does the attorney advise Mattie regarding Basil's bail?
(a) Pay it immediately
(b) Make Basil pay it
(c) Don't pay it
(d) Negotiate the amount

5. What does the Opening Poem tell the reader the book will be about?
(a) World peace
(b) Guilty pleasures
(c) Marriage and divorce
(d) Dreams unrealized

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the story about?

2. From where did many of these new tenants migrate?

3. How is the information about the characters to be presented?

4. Miss Eva says men just do not agree with her like _______________.

5. Mattie's father's love for her was _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. On what grounds do Ben and Lorraine form an unlikely friendship?

2. Explain the significance of music in Etta's life.

3. The theme of baptism is an important one in the book. Explain why the rain that starts on the day of Ben's funeral is so significant.

4. What is Cora Lee's background?

5. What are the motivations for Sophie's hateful behavior?

6. What life lessons is the author imparting through Mattie, Miss Eva and Etta at this point of the story?

7. Explain Mattie's perspective on Basil's life and her responsibility for him.

8. Compare and contrast Etta and Mattie.

9. Ciel has so much love to give but she places it in the hands of the wrong man. Explain Ciel's unfortunate choices while looking for love.

10. How does the author choose to open the book?

(see the answer keys)

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