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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. Why does Deck insult Ronnie Parkman?

2. What does Sandy discover has happened to Nkrumah school in Chapter 16?

3. What sad realization does Birdie come to at the end of Chapter 13?

4. Why do Birdie and Nicholas become such close friends?

5. What does Birdie notice about her mother's hair in Chapter 14?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Birdie do after Dennis' party?

2. How does Ronnie Parkman help Birdie find her father?

3. What mementos does Birdie find stashed in her mother's room?

4. Describe Corvette.

5. How does Nicholas offend Birdie in Chapter 10?

6. Why does Birdie feel betrayed by Sandy in Chapter 13?

7. Why is Birdie taunted by a group of boys in Chapter 12?

8. Why does Birdie imagine she is doing a school report for her old Nkrumah school?

9. Describe Birdie's trip to New York in Chapter 13.

10. Who is Exu and why does Birdie pray to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the significance of Birdie's box of "negrobilia". What does the box originally contain and what types of items does Birdie add to it over the years? Why do Deck and Cole give Birdie the box? What is the significance of the negrobilia to Birdie?

Essay Topic 2

What is the value placed on skin color in the novel? How does skin color relate to racial perceptions and attitudes? How does the attitude prevalent towards skin color in the novel affect the education, social acceptance, and emotional well-being of the characters in the novel? How might perceptions about skin color affect Birdie's future children? Cole's future children?

Essay Topic 3

How does Nicholas' comment about Birdie's appearance affect their relationship? What perceptions does Birdie have of beauty and race? What perceptions does Nicholas have of beauty and race? What might this foreshadow for their relationship?

(see the answer keys)

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