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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does the relationship between Christmas and Miss Burden evolve?
(a) They become best friends.
(b) The friendship cools off after a year.
(c) He becomes the manager of her farm.
(d) They become lovers.

2. How has Hightower always perceived his parents?
(a) As the best parents a child could ever have
(b) As two people very much in love
(c) As good business partners
(d) As two ghosts inhabiting the same house

3. Why does Hightower think he let down the people of Jefferson?
(a) Because he wanted to allow Negroes to attend services
(b) Because he was not very high up in his class at the seminary
(c) Because he tried to support church leadership instead of tending to the spiritual needs of the people.
(d) Because he was not a very good fund raiser

4. How much is the reward for the apprehension of Miss Burden's murderer?
(a) Fifty thousand dollars
(b) Five thousand dollars
(c) Twenty thousand dollars
(d) A thousand dollars

5. What does the deputy tell the sheriff about Lena?
(a) That Joe Brown is also Lucas Burch and the father of Lena's unborn child.
(b) That Lena is nothing but a troublemaker and should be run out of town.
(c) That Lucas Burch is trying to find Lena.
(d) That Lena has asked the deputy to help her find Lucas Burch.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Milly Hines die?

2. What does the sheriff tell Byron he will do?

3. Who do the townspeople think inspired Christmas to attempt an escape?

4. How old is Miss Burden when she discovers him stealing food from her house?

5. What does the old man holler out while waiting on the train to Jefferson?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the Negroes of Mottstown support Mr. Hines who preaches white supremacy in Negro churches?

2. Why is Hightower so upset that Byron has asked for his help with the situations regarding Lena and Christmas?

3. New life has significance in more than one way in this chapter. Explain.

4. Explain the irony in Miss Burden's nearly nymphomaniac behavior?

5. Other than the fact that he is a good person, why does Hightower feel the need to help Christmas?

6. Explain this statement made by Christmas: "Whether they are seventeen or fortyseven, when they finally come to surrender completely, it's going to be in words."

7. Explain why Christmas' arrival in the town of Mottstown means that he has come full circle in his life.

8. Why are the townspeople anxious to find Miss Burden's killer?

9. What does Hightower finally realize as he sits at his window watching the fading light?

10. What is the symbolism of the odor in Hightower's house?

(see the answer keys)

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