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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. What does Cedric do at church one day when singing in the choir?

2. What old friend from Jefferson does Cedric call from M.I.T.?

3. How many points does Cedric raise his SAT score when he takes it again?

4. What do Cedric and his mother sing as they drive into Providence?

5. When does Cedric first meet his father?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Bishop Long been criticized for his role at Scripture Cathedral?

2. Why does Cedric arrive at school by 6:30 a.m. most mornings?

3. What are Barbara's early years like?

4. Why does Cedric feel like an inferior human being at the summer program?

5. As mid-terms approach, how is Cedric doing at the M.I.T. summer program?

6. Who is James Davis?

7. How do Cedric and Rob spend their first afternoon together?

8. Why is there an assembly at the beginning of the book?

9. Why is the college prep class the cruelest class offered at Ballou?

10. Why does Phillip Atkins change from good student to class clown?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain what Larry Wakefield means when he tells Cedric, "If you're going to make it here, Cedric, you'll have to find some distance from yourself and all you've been through."

Essay Topic 2

Explain why some minority students can compete on an equal basis with white students and do not need affirmative action to get into college. Provide examples of students in the book who fall into this category.

Essay Topic 3

Affirmative action is a topic frequently discussed in the 1990s. Discuss affirmative action, how various individuals in the book feel about affirmative action, and whether affirmative action helps or hinders minority students like Cedric.

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