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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 does Mattie's father believe is the father of Mattie's unborn child?

2. In what state did Mattie grow up?

3. The author challenges the reader to think in terms of ________________ when encountering the women's stories.

4. What will Mattie not tell her father about her unborn child?

5. The new tenants "clung to the _______________ with a desperate acceptance."

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the first black man to move into Brewster Place?

2. Describe Cora Lee's obsession with babies.

3. Explain the circumstances of Basil's arrest and his manipulation of Mattie while incarcerated.

4. Explain how Mattie is the perfect example of making the best of what you have been given in life.

5. What is Cora Lee's background?

6. What is the reason the author uses these literary elements throughout the book?

7. According to the author, what happens when a street dies?

8. How does the theme of learning to be happy with what you have exhibit in Kiswana's life?

9. Explain how Kiswana's mother tries to show Kiswana what it means to be a strong black woman.

10. What is Mattie's father's role in her life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the Langston Hughes poem used at the beginning of the book. Why did the author choose Hughes' work?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the irony in Mattie's father alienating Mattie--who is his whole life--from his life.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the character of Ben. Why is he important to the story? Why does his appearance in Chapter 1 foreshadow the other men to come in the story?

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This section contains 932 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample