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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. Who tells Ike that his son has died?

2. What does Buddy Lee throw at one of the intruders in Chapter Thirteen?

3. Who comes out of the back room with a gun in Chapter Nineteen, saving Ike?

4. In Chapter Ten, where do Ike and Buddy Lee go to try to find information about their sons' deaths?

5. What was Ike's prison nickname?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter Two, what does Buddy Lee want Ike to do with him?

2. In Chapter Three, what happens between Buddy Lee and his landlord?

3. In Chapter Two, what do Buddy Lee and Ike seem to have in common?

4. In Chapter Seven, what has happened to Ike's son's grave?

5. In Chapter Twelve, what does Ike say to Buddy Lee about the difference between prison sentences for white and Black men?

6. In Chapter Twenty, why does LaPlata visit Buddy Lee?

7. In Chapter Fourteen, what clue do Ike and Buddy Lee find at their sons' house?

8. In Chapter Five, what is Ike really afraid of about going after his son's killers?

9. In Chapter Sixteen, what are some reasons Buddy Lee is so bitter towards his ex-wife?

10. In Chapter Nineteen, who comes to see Ike at his shop and what happens there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Cosby approach and treat the topic of grief - specifically that of parents for their deceased children - throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Cosby describe Ike's history with police and law enforcement, and why is this relevant throughout the book? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Cosby describe Ike's history of dealing with, and participating in, violent acts throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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