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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 looked like "spectators at a sports event" when Melba arrives at school on October 1?

2. Who told the mobs in Little Rock that they must cease and desist?

3. What did Melba ask her diary for at Christmas time?

4. Melba decided to "claim Saturday for her own" after her first week of school. What time did she rise?

5. What book did Melba's English teacher assign for a book report?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was President Eisenhower's response regarding Central High school integration and the mobs in Little Rock?

2. What items dear to Melba did she decide to give away at Thanksgiving?

3. What happened at the official Thanksgiving dinner at Mrs. Bates' home?

4. What happened to Melba when saluting the flag?

5. Why didn't anyone but Vince show up at Melba's Sixteenth birthday party?

6. Who was Gene Smith and what impression did Melba have of him?

7. What were the changes that Melba observed in her fellow students integrating into the school as the harassment continued?

8. What led to Minnijean's suspension?

9. What happened when acid is thrown in Melba's eyes? What was the result?

10. How did Grandma India respond to Melba's wish to be dead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It is presented as significant that Melba was born on December 7, 1941. Explain why. What did the grandmother claim was Melba's destiny and why?

Essay Topic 2

Melba's mother stated that "we live in a country where the law and the Constitution prevail." Compare and contrast the mother's statement with the events in which the state government was battling the federal government.

Essay Topic 3

School integration isn't as volatile an issue any more. Choose to write about other types of segregration present in schools today or whether racism against African Americans is still an issue that needs attention. Be certain to support your essay with facts.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 776 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample