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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 did Rick find himself wishing for at the funeral home?

2. What is the story of the widow's mite?

3. Why did Rick run from the police when he was riding the moped?

4. Why were the Bragg boys "usual suspects" in the John Sparks case?

5. What did Grandma Ab do the last time her grandchildren drove away with their father and mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why didn't Margaret find another man to continue her life with as time passed and Charles did not return?

2. Why does Rick say that anyone could write this book? Is that true?

3. What was the main reason for Rick writing this memoir?

4. What kind of an extended family does Rick have?

5. What were some of the stories that Rick would tell in the book that he had covered as a reporter?

6. How poor was Margaret while raising her small children?

7. What male influence did Rick and his brother's have in their lives?

8. What were the times like when Rick grew up? Where was he born? When?

9. Why does Rick miss his grandmother's death?

10. What was the area like and what were the people like where Rick and his parents grew up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What historical lesson did Rick Bragg teach his readers about Haiti? How has this story affected Rick, and what did he hope the story would continue to do to his readers?

Essay Topic 2

What are Rick's views about religion? Where do they come from? How do they affect him emotionally? What does he understand that he is missing?

Essay Topic 3

Growing up, what was Rick taught to believe about black people? What did he learn as a child for himself about them? What happened with the experience after the black boy brought Rick's family food?

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