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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 is Harold's last name?

2. What form does the lake itself take?

3. What does Carl tell the construction crew about Kenny in "The Distributors"?

4. What appears after Nathan's dog dies?

5. What do the men want to harvest in "Six Days You Shall Labor"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Harlem," what does Elder Dawud say the people should do?

2. What do both the devil and God want to consult repeatedly in the story "Devil Bird"?

3. Why is Carl looking for work in "The Distributors"?

4. In "Harlem," what part does Harold take in the protests?

5. In "Thrust Counter Thrust," how does Saul feel about Lon's death in Korea?

6. In "Rope of Wind," why is Johnny B afraid of the men who stop him in the beginning?

7. In "Rope of Wind," why do the white men kill Mr. Westland?

8. What does Carl think is strange about the interview process in "The Distributors"?

9. In "Six Days You Shall Labor," what happens when Big Mo sells the pecans at church?

10. What does Mr. Westland ask Johnny B to tell his son?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Double Nigger," what several purposes does Dumas attach to the group of friends' constant joking and teasing? How do these jokes take on a different cast after the friends' interactions with the white man in the truck? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

What is the evidence both for and against the conclusion that the character Fon in "Fon" is a supernatural being? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Dumas treat the topic of music - and its potential power - throughout this collection? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 595 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample