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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 can the reader conclude is the profession of a pushcart man?

2. Upon seeing the postman, what plan does Jones concoct?

3. After telling Lutie about Junto's proposition, what instructions does Boots give Junto when asking him to leave the apartment?

4. Why is Lutie infuriated by Mrs. Hedges' mention of the nice white gentleman, Mr. Junto?

5. What does Jones ask Min to do for him after seeing the postman?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jones think that Min is standing between him and Lutie? Is this assumption reasonable? Explain.

2. Boots hesitates before conceding to Junto's request that Lutie be left alone. What might that slight hesitation suggest?

3. Throughout the book, Mrs. Hedges has been painted as a negative personality by both Jones and Lutie. On the other hand, Min and Junto regard her highly. Which perception would the author like the reader to trust?

4. Explain why Junto and Boots feel that they can discuss Lutie's future and disregard her hopes without her consent.

5. Describe the significance of the money Lutie steals from Boots in Chapter 18.

6. Describe Jones' inability to own any responsibility for the nature of his relationship with Lutie.

7. How does Bub's initial refusal to participate in the mail scheme reflect his character and his mother's expectations?

8. What does Boots' ultimate decision to obey Junto's request to leave Lutie alone say about his character?

9. In Chapter 16, Bub is taken into custody by the post-office investigators. How does this fact impact Lutie's feelings about The Street?

10. In Chapter 13, Lutie is yet again propositioned. She's presented with the opportunity to receive free singing lessons if she'd just allow Mr. Crosse to see her a couple of times a week. Lutie refuses. What drives Lutie's determination not to exchange her body for personal advancement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lutie's grandmother is a significant character in The Street, despite the fact that she has passed before it's telling. How does Petry make the grandmother as concrete a character as the other living characters? What techniques do you notice that allow the reader to feel as though they "know" the grandmother? What purpose does the grandmother serve within the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Min is a fairly docile character. Even though her mind is hard at work, she rarely voices an opinion, even about her own treatment. She juxtaposes other women who are quite different in nature. Mrs. Hedges is overtly vocal about what she thinks--giving unwarranted advice at times. Lutie may not always condemn things aloud, but she does not stand for them and will respond with some sort of action. In your opinion, which of the three characters best handles life? Whose approach has brought the most freedom? In contrast, which character's life choices have resulted in a less than desirable life? Support your ideas with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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