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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 Lutie's reaction to Boots' apparent attempts to charm her for a second time?

2. What does Lutie contemplate on the bus ride home after she has spent the evening with Boots?

3. How does Jones feel about the possibility of Min leaving him?

4. How does Lutie feel about Bub shining shoes?

5. What is Lutie determined to do when the interaction between Boots and the motorcycle policeman is over?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Min's relationship with Jones reflect the relationships in her past?

2. Considering Lutie's failed marriage and Jim's inability to provide for his family, what sort of future does Boots offers Lutie?

3. Jones becomes enraged when he looks at Bub and imagines that the boy resembles his father. Why do you think this is?

4. Chapter 4 more clearly depicts Jones' obsession with Lutie. In fact, "she made him more aware of his loneliness that ate into him day and night." How might Lutie's mere appearance open up such a void in Jones?

5. Chapter 1 opens with the description of a cold and windy day in New York City. Why might the author have chosen to describe the wind through personification?

6. Why has Lutie failed, up until Chapter 9, to consider that Bub might be afraid of staying home alone?

7. Describe what Junto's means to the different people in the neighborhood.

8. In Chapter 2, Lutie returns from Mrs. Chandler's and arrives in Harlem relieved to be away from white people. How does Lutie believe that white women and men look at her?

9. In Chapter 1, what idea does the author hope to represent with the shrinking canary, dog, and woman in Jones' apartment?

10. Describe how Jones and Lutie view one another.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Considering the context of the book and the author's ideas on sexism, racism, and poverty, do you think Lutie ever had a chance at success? If she had been able to escape the role of murderer, do you think she would have made it off "The Street"? Explain your response and support it with details from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Jones is not well received by the neighborhood. His strange behaviors intensify this rejection, yet Jones makes no efforts to alter his behaviors so that he might be deemed acceptable to his neighbors. What does this refusal reflect about Jones? What does his rejection reflect about the community? How is Jones' treatment similar to Lutie's treatment, in terms of the sexism and racism she experiences? Use ideas from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The Street explores the dynamics of racism and sexism through main character Lutie Johnson. Lutie consistently expresses her frustration and hatred toward both systems of inequality. Toward the book's end, though, Lutie considers the idea that all of her troubles might not simply be manifestations of her race and gender. Maybe she is suffering so much because of poverty. Of these three debilitating systems--racism, sexism, and poverty--which, if any, do you think is most crippling for Lutie? Or do you believe they work together to cripple her? Provide examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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