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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 Colin start wondering, in Chapter 22?

2. What did the students believe caused the cancellation of their class trip, according to Chapter 17?

3. Who was arrested for threatening to burn Alva's house?

4. What meeting did Alice McGoff start to attend, according to Chapter 15?

5. Which of Rachel's children was put on probation after being arrested?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Rachel see at the meeting she attended, in Chapter 16?

2. What happened to Rachel's sons, Richard and George, as well as her daughter Rachel?

3. What happened at the newspaper company building on October 7, 1974, in Chapter 24?

4. What strained the relationship between Mayor Kevin White and the Kennedy family?

5. What did Colin begin to wonder?

6. What happened on July 4?

7. Who was Cardinal Cushing, according to Chapter 20?

8. Where was Alice McGoff working, at the start of Chapter 19?

9. What happened by the end of the year, according to Chapter 17?

10. What statement did the Cardinal make that caused an uproar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Epilogue reveals the status of the people and families in the book after the book ended. Students should compare a family with how they were in the book with events that occurred after and examine how the situation of busing played a role in their life. Use the text to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

The book Common Ground focuses on the common threads of American families living in the area of Boston during the time following the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination. Examine the title of the book and discuss its purpose, relevance, and significance. Use the text to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Compare the families discussed in Common Ground and discuss the issues each family experienced during the 1960s. Use the text and secondary sources to support your discussion.

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