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Short Story Test Prep

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 2hrs 46mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In "Lather and Nothing Else", the barber most struggles with

a)

losing his friend

b)

whether to kill the captain

c)

being a barber when he wishes he could be a rebel full time

d)

knowing Captain Torres is aware that he is a rebel

2.

Which of these best describes a theme developed on power in "Lather and Nothing Else"?

a)

The only way to fight power imbalances is through violence

b)

It is hard to win when you are fighting a whole system of violence and corruption

c)

There will always be powerful and less powerful people so try to be happy where you are

d)

You can overcome even powerful people if you are brave enough

3.

How does the ending of "Lather and Nothing Else" contribute to the theme?

a)

It shows that a person's morals can easily be corrupted

b)

It shows that doing your job is more important than being powerful

c)

It shows that even the power the barber thought he had did not exist, since the captain knew of his status as a rebel

d)

It shows that only brave men win in the end.

4.

Which of these was NOT a reason the barber struggled to kill the captain in "Lather and Nothing Else"?

a)

he didn't like the sight of blood

b)

he felt it would be a little bit of a sucker punch

c)

he felt a responsibility to do his job

d)

he did not want to be a murderer

5.

What might the razor symbolize in "Lather and Nothing Else"?

a)

the power of weapons

b)

the professional responsibility of being a barber

c)

the thin margin that separates right and wrong

d)

how dangerous the captain is

6.

What type of conflict is the main struggle in "Lather and Nothing Else"?

a)

Internal

b)

External

7.
What is the central conflict of Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”?
a)
the cultural and personal struggle between Maggie and her mom vs. Dee
b)
the inner conflict between Dee vs. herself on whether she should claim what is rightfully hers
c)
the political and racial struggle of Maggie, her mom, and Dee vs. white society
d)
the socioeconomic clash between the poor and the rich
8.

In "Everyday Use", how does the action of Maggie “[trying] to dig a well in the sand with her toe” characterize her when Dee returns home?

a)
This action characterizes Maggie as being adventurous and curious of the world around her. 
b)
This action characterizes Maggie as being conscientious and mindful of the earth. 
c)
This action characterizes Maggie as being physical and energetic. 
d)
This action characterizes Maggie as being weak, non-confrontational, or afraid of Dee. 
9.

In "Everyday Use", why does Dee change her name?

a)
She did not like her Aunt Dee
b)
Her boyfriend told her to
c)
She wanted to make Mamma mad
d)
So she won't have a white oppressor name
10.

What is the central theme of the story "Everyday Use"?

a)
the importance of going to college and becoming better than everyone else
b)
Life is too short to live in a poor situation
c)
the importance of standing up for yourself
d)
the importance of heritage and culture to an individual's understanding of his or her life and identity.
11.

Based on the following description of Dee in "Everyday Use", which inference can you make about her? “She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice.”

a)

She knew how important it was to educate her mother and sister.

b)

The stories she told were meant to frighten her family and keep them awake at night.

c)

Dee found many ways to show her mother and sister that she was smarter than they were.

d)

Because she could read so well, Dee probably would make a fine teacher.

12.

In "Everyday Use", Dee wants the old family quilts because

a)

new quilts are too expensive, and she cannot afford to buy them

b)

they represent her family’s history and remind her of her ancestors

c)

she wants only handmade articles for her home

d)

they include all the colors she has used in her home

13.

In "Everyday Use", Mama gives the quilts to Maggie because she

a)

knows that Maggie has always liked colorful things

b)

thinks that Maggie can get a lot of money by selling them

c)

believes Maggie will treat them with more care than Dee will

d)

already has promised to give them to her when Maggie is ready for marriage

14.

In "Everyday Use" what do the churn, the quilt, and the Polaroids that Dee takes best symbolize to her?

a)
the Black Pride movement and empowerment popular in the 1960s and the AfricanAmerican voice over those who attempt to stifle it
b)
her family’s hard work and support of Dee, her education, and her upbringing
c)
relics from her family’s past and African-American culture that should be remembered but not used
d)
slavery and all of the atrocities that African-Americans endured over the years
15.

"Everyday Use"--Which inference can you make about Maggie from the following description? “‘How do I look, Mama?’ Maggie says, showing just enough of her thin body enveloped in pink skirt and red blouse for me to know she’s there, almost hidden by the door.”

a)

Being unsure of herself, Maggie needed her mother to tell her she looked nice.

b)

No matter what she wore, Maggie always wanted her mother to compliment her.

c)

Because Maggie was small and thin, she liked to wear bright colors to stand out.

d)

The door was so heavy that Maggie could not open it herself.

16.

In "Civil Peace", how does the author structure the events in the story to propel the plot?

a)

The author uses consequence to show how Jonathan’s actions negatively affect the people around him.

b)

The author uses parallel plot to show both Jonathan’s unique experience and Maria’s unique experience.

c)

The author uses chronological order and flashback to show how Jonathan and his family earn income after the war.

d)

The author uses multiple stories and multiple character perspectives to show the way different people in the Nigerian community think and feel.

17.

What is most likely the author’s reason for using repetition in "Civil Peace"?

a)

To emphasize Jonathan’s belief that there are aspects out of his control.

b)

To remind the reader to be grateful for the good things in their lives.

c)

To show that Jonathan is unable to move forward after the war.

d)

To prompt the reader to find humor in the events of the story.

18.

"Civil Peace"--What does the following text mostly reveal about Jonathan’s homeland?


“‘Awrighto. Now we talk business. We no be bad tief. We no like for make trouble. Trouble done finish. War done finish and all the katakata wey de for inside. No Civil War again. This time na Civil Peace. No be so?’


‘Na so!’ answered the horrible chorus.

a)

The people who survive the war are required to educate others on the doctrines of peace.

b)

there are thieves roaming the country, they view themselves as hardworking individuals.

c)

The officials who fought in the war are unable to stop bartering that occurs among regular citizens.

d)

Although the war is officially over, there are factions of people that continue to cause strife among others.

19.

What is a central idea of the story "Civil Peace"?

a)

A man is grateful for what he has amidst a war-torn country and he works to rebuild life for his family.

b)

A man gets involved in several schemes after the war and he takes advantage of the exhausted soldiers.

c)

A man tries to secure his old job after the war is over but he eventually gives up when the company remains closed.

d)

A man hides valuable possessions during a war and he must secretly retrace his steps to collect the wealth when the war ends.

20.

In “Civil Peace,” what effect does the author achieve by having the thief speak in dialect while Jonathan speaks more standard English?

a)

The difference in speech shows that the thief is not a Nigerian.

b)

The difference in speech shows that Jonathan is not a native Nigerian.

c)

The difference in speech shows that Jonathan is probably richer than the thief.

d)

The difference in speech shows that the thief is probably less educated than Jonathan.

21.

Jamaica Kincaid, the author of "Girl", is from what island?

a)
Antigua
b)
St. John's
c)
England
d)
Franconia
22.

Read the excerpt from "Civil Peace" below: “Only two houses away a huge concrete edifice some wealthy contractor had put up just before the war was a mountain of rubble. And here was Jonathan's little zinc house of no regrets built with mud blocks quite intact!” What type of irony do these two sentences from the text represent?

a)

Situational

b)

Dramatic

c)

Verbal

d)

None

23.

An accurate theme statement for "Civl Peace" would be

a)

It is better to take advantage of war than to find ways to live normally within it

b)

Even though our lives may be chaotic, every occurrence is part of a plan and will work out in the end

c)

Other people will try to take advantage of another’s hard work. It is okay to stand up to them, despite the consequences

d)

Making a living is ultimately more important than the safety of one’s family

24.

What is the point of view in "Girl"?

a)

First

b)

Second

c)

Third Omniscient

d)

Third Limited

25.

How many times does the daughter speak in "Girl", and how does the author indicate the daughter's speeches?

a)

2; the author uses dialgoue

b)

2; the author uses italics

c)

1; the author uses diagloue

d)

1; the author uses italics

26.

The most frequently recurring images in "Girl" refer to

a)

Clothes and food

b)

Machinery and weapons

c)

Animals and nautre

d)

Computer and technology

27.

How does the author indirectly characterize the mother in "Girl"?

a)

Looks

b)

Thoughts

c)

Speech

d)

Actions

28.

What is a theme?

a)

A message about a universal human experience.

b)

A symbol.

c)

Something that occurs repeatedly in a story.

d)

The events of a plot.

29.

__________ in literature is the overall emotion and atmosphere the author intends the reader to feel while reading the book.

a)

Tone

b)

Mood

30.

__________ is the author's own opinion or a specific character's opinion of a subject matter seeping through the language.

a)

Tone

b)

Mood

31.

________ irony is a situation in which the audience or reader has a better understanding of events than the characters in a story do

a)

Verbal

b)

Dramatic

c)

Situational

32.

If the reader is learning the truth alongside the character, that is _______ irony.

a)

dramatic

b)

verbal

c)

situational

33.

__________irony is a figure of speech. The speaker intends to be understood as meaning something that contrasts with the literal or usual meaning of what he says.

a)

situational

b)

verbal

c)

dramatic

34.

___________ is the description of a character's physical traits (how a character looks), point of view, personality, private thoughts, and actions. There are two types of _________ in fiction writing.

a)

allusion

b)

irony

c)

characterization

35.

What is text evidence?

a)

Important information from the text that helps you answer a question

b)

What kind of punctuation is used at the end of a sentence

c)

The choice of words that the author uses in the text

d)

Your opinion about how you liked what you read