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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. How do the neighborhood people feel when Bub is taken away by the postal investigators?

2. How does Jones behave with Min after seeing the postman?

3. What does Lutie believe lies ahead for Bub since being taken away by the postal investigators?

4. Why does Lutie find herself scolding Bub after she returns from The Casino in Chapter 13?

5. What has been an effect of Lutie's hysterical fear?

Short Essay Questions

1. It is both Lutie's presence and her absence that allows Jones to get a hold of Bub. Explain how this is possible.

2. Analyze Mrs. Hedges' state of mind.

3. What likely explains Lutie's decision to stop discussing money with Bub (made in Chapter 13)?

4. Chapter 18 ends tragically when Lutie repeatedly strikes Boots in the head with a candlestick. What does the author intend for Boots to represent? Why does Lutie feel compelled to strike him so many times?

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

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

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

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

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

10. In Chapter 17, Lutie is going to visit Bub at the Children's Shelter. The day is dark and grim. How has the author used the weather to supplement the telling of this story? How does the author's decision to use weather to supplement a story's telling impact the reader?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Has Ann Petry written a successful novel? If so, what qualities deem it so? If not, what qualities prevent its success? Support your answer with evidence from the text and your own prior knowledge.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

The Street ends tragically. Not only is Lutie now a murderer, but she has abandoned her child. Considering the gravity of both of these acts, are you sympathetic to Lutie? Explain.

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