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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 Clarissa seem to like about Francie's house?

2. Why does Mama order Francie to retrieve the empty jars before morning?

3. Where does Jess tell Francie he is going to catch a freight to California?

4. What does Mama throw away when she returns home?

5. Where does Francie put food so Jesse will find it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Mama's characteristics that allow her to take charge and create a new life for her family in spite of all the obstacles in her way.

2. What does Jesse tell Francie about what happened with Mr. Bellamy and why he is in trouble?

3. What are the stresses that Francie's mother is experiencing now?

4. When does Francie become sure that Jesse is hiding in the woods?

5. What is the content of Daddy's letter? How does the family react to it?

6. Why does Clarissa Montgomery drive to Francine's house on the night the men and the dogs are searching for Jesse?

7. Where does Jesse say he is headed? What does Francie do to try to protect him for the night?

8. Why is Francie's mother worried about Francie's taking food to Jesse?

9. Why does Clarissa run the risk of bringing Prez and Perry home?

10. What does Mama's comment to Miss Beach about September foreshadow for the family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of racial prejudice. Identify at least two instances about prejudice in the book and then cite examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Mama. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Karen English's use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where she did.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,046 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample