Maya Angelou Resilience Quiz

As a child, Maya Angelou

• faced racism and prejudice.

• stopped speaking for many years.

• went back and forth between homes.

• all of the above

The name "Maya" came from

• a childhood nickname.

• her favorite children's book.

• her mother side of the family.

• a popular song from the 1940s.

Why did Angelou stop speaking for five years?

• She didn't like the sound of her own voice.

• She was afraid of the power of her words.

• She wanted to become a professional singer.

• She was ashamed that she had no formal education.

How did Mrs. Flowers influence Angelou’s life?

• by bringing her books

• by taking her to the doctor

• by giving her a job as a dancer

• by getting her interested in science

What gave Angelou the courage to speak again?

• her sister's support

• writing her first book

• reading books and poems

• meeting her future husband

Which of the following is an example of figurative language?

• Her smile was as bright as the sun.

• George cooked an extremely spicy chili.

• The bus ride took twice as long as usual!

• Toni Morrison is my favorite author of all time.

True or False: Angelou's only skill was writing.

• True

• False

How did Angelou turn a loss into a gain?

• She lost the first draft of her memoir but was able to rewrite it from memory.

• She was in a terrible accident as a child and learned to live with gratitude.

• She turned her painful memories into beloved books.

• She adopted a daughter after her mother died.

Angelou became a mother at the age of

• 17.

• 19.

• 22.

• 30.

Angelou is best known for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, a

• spoken-word album.

• book of poems.

• screenplay.

• memoir.