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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. What does Clare's stationery say about her?
(a) She is wealthy.
(b) She is beautiful.
(c) She is plain.
(d) She is feminine.

2. Why does Irene bring up Junior's exposure to sexually tainted jokes?
(a) She hopes it will spark some life in his eyes.
(b) She is being suggestive.
(c) She is trying to divert Brian's attention.
(d) She wants to punish Brian.

3. What did Clare's aunts do to her?
(a) Forced her to learn to cook.
(b) Used her father against her.
(c) Tortured her with religion.
(d) Made her care for them in their old age.

4. In her illness, Helga is unable to
(a) Love her new child.
(b) Pray properly.
(c) Ask the right questions.
(d) Give birth.

5. Whrn speaking with Hugh Wentworth at the dance, Irene
(a) Complains about Brian.
(b) Discloses all she knows about Clare.
(c) Is embarrassed about bringing Clare.
(d) Does not tell him Clare is black.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the trait of Clare's that gossipers have mentioned to Irene?

2. Helga chooses to remain

3. When Brian tries to talk to his sons about racism, Irene

4. Brian's comments about sex being a joke indicate that

5. Irene does not tell Brian about bumping into Bellew because

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you suppose Clare is pushing herself so rigorously to get involved in Irene's life? Why has she not chosen, for instance, Gertrude, to reacquaint her with the black culture? What is the particular attraction to Irene?

2. What is it that has kept Clare from leaving her husband and living permanently in Harlem?

3. What is the author's intention when she puts the two women together in the hotel restaurant scene? What conclusions can we draw from Irene's memory of that day?

4. How does this time in Helga's life compare to other times? Is it similar or different? In what ways?

5. Speculate on why Clare is silent at the Redfield dinner table, but talkative and gregarious a parties with others. Does she have a split personality, or is she just shy at the Redfields'? How does Larsen let on what is going on without saying it?

6. What is the burden that these characters carry with them throughout the story?

7. Discuss Helga's new exuberance as the wife of a minister.

8. Clare attends the Negro League dance with Brian and Irene. What does the dance symbolize in the story? Why is Irene careful to arrange a ride home for Clare?

9. During a period while Clare is gone, is there peace in the Redfield home? Why, or why not?

10. Discuss how giving birth to her fourth child seems to be Helga's breaking point. Why does this happen? What does the death of her infant symbolize?

(see the answer keys)

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