CEDAR SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS
ANSWER KEY
Section A: Answer the following MCQs by choosing any one answer from the
given options.
(_____/5)
1. Who do Mama and her children go to visit after Stacey confesses to visiting the
Wallace store?
c) One of the Berrys
2. What new item of clothing has Uncle Hammer bought for Stacey?
b) Woolen coat
3. What does T.J. do in school that Stacey takes the blame for?
c) makes cheat chits
4. Who do the Grangers sell their land to when they have financial troubles?
c) Paul Edward
5. What does the school bus driver do to the Logan children to make them furious?
d) Splashes them with mud
Section B: Write one character trait for each of the following characters. (____/5)
S.
Characters
Traits
no
1.
T.J. Avery
Selfish, liar, manipulative, cheater
2.
Big Ma
Helpful, cautious, strong, resilient
3
Mr. Morrison
Helpful, sincere, honest
4.
Lillian Jean
Proud, rude, dominant, arrogant
5.
Cassie
Supportive, empathetic, stronh
Section C: Read the given text and answer the questions accordingly. (____/10)
It was then that I bumped into Lillian Jean Simms. “Why don’t you look where you’re
going?” she asked huffily. Jeremy and her two younger brothers were with her. “Hey,
Cassie,” said Jeremy.
“Hey, Jeremy,” I said solemnly, keeping my eyes on Lillian Jean. “Well, apologize,” she
ordered. “What?” “You bumped into me. Now you apologize.” I did not feel like messing
with Lillian Jean. I had other things on my mind. “Okay,” I said, starting past, “I’m sorry.”
Lillian Jean sidestepped in front of me. “That ain’t enough. Get down in the road.”
I looked up at her. “You crazy?” “You can’t watch where you going, get in the road.
Maybe that way you won’t be bumping into decent white folks with your little nasty self.”
I started past her again, and again she got in my way. “Ah let her pass, Lillian Jean,”
said Jeremy. “She ain’t done nothin’ to you.”
“She done something to me just standing in front of me.” With that, she reached for my
arm and attempted to push me off the sidewalk.
I braced myself and swept my arm backward, out of Lillian Jean’s reach. But someone
caught it from behind, painfully twisting it, and shoved me off the sidewalk into the road.
I landed bottom first on the ground. Mr. Simms glared down at me. “When my gal Lillian
Jean says for you to get yo’self off the sidewalk, you get, you hear?”
Behind him were his sons R.W. and Melvin. People from the store began to ring the
Simmses. “Ain’t that the same little nigger was cuttin’ up back there at Jim Lee’s?”
someone asked. “Yeah, she the one,” answered Mr. Simms. “You hear me talkin’ to you,
gal? You ’pologize to Miz Lillian Jean this minute.”
I stared up at Mr. Simms, frightened. Jeremy appeared frightened too. “I—I apologized
already.” Jeremy seemed relieved that I had spoken. “She d-did, Pa. R-right now, ’fore
y’all come, she did—”
Mr. Simms turned an angry gaze upon his son and Jeremy faltered, looked at me, and
hung his head. Then Mr. Simms jumped into the street. I moved away from him, trying
to get up. He was a mean-looking man, red in the face and bearded. I was afraid he
was going to hit me before I could get to my feet, but he didn’t. I scrambled up and ran
blindly for the wagon.
Someone grabbed me and I fought wildly, attempting to pull loose. “Stop, Cassie!” Big
Ma said. “Stop, it’s me. We’re going home now.”
“Not ’fore she ’pologizes to my gal, y’all ain’t,” said Mr. Simms.
Big Ma gazed down at me, fear in her eyes, then back at the growing crowd. “She jus’ a
child—” “Tell her, Aunty—” Big Ma looked at me again, her voice cracking as she spoke.
“Go on, child . . . apologize.”
“But, Big Ma—”
Her voice hardened. “Do like I say.”
I swallowed hard. “Go on!” “I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry, Miz Lillian Jean,” demanded Mr. Simms.
“Big Ma!” I balked. “Say it, child.”
A painful tear slid down my cheek and my lips trembled. “I’m sorry . . . M-Miz . . . Lillian
Jean.”
Q1. What does Mr. Simms do to Cassie?
a.
(____/2)
He shoved and twisted her hand and asked her to call his daughter ‘Mizz’ and
apologise to her the way she asked her to do.
Q2. What does this incident reveal about racial tensions in the community? (____/2)
a.
It reveals about the deep-seated racial injustice and hatred towards the blacks.
It shows how the blacks were oppressed and forced to do the things against their
self-esteem and will.
Q3. How would you describe Lillian Jean's behavior in this scene?
a.
(_____/2)
Racist, aggressive, and bullying.
Q4. Provide meanings for the underlined words.
1. Slightly angry, Irritated, Offended, Displeased
(______/4)
2. Gravely, Seriously, Earnestly
3. Strengthened, Stiffened
4. Murmured, Whispered
Section D: Answer any one of the following essay based questions. (_____/10)
Q1. Discuss the theme of family unity in chapters 1-6. How do the Logans' relationships
demonstrate resilience and support in the face of adversity?
●
Provide two pieces of evidence from the chapters to support your answer.
●
Your answer should have a proper point and link.
●
Evidence must be explained properly.
●
Word limit: 100-120 words
a.
The Logan family's unity is a cornerstone of resilience in Chapters 1-6, enabling
them to face adversity together. (P) Big Ma's guidance and love exemplify this unity.
When Cassie is humiliated by Lillian Jean, Big Ma comforts her, saying, "You're a
Logan...you hold your head up" (Chapter 5). (E) This demonstrates Big Ma's nurturing
role, fostering strength and pride in her family. Additionally, Papa's decision to work
away from home to support his family showcases his commitment to their well-being:
"Papa had gone away to work...to make a better life for us" (Chapter 1). (E) These
examples illustrate the Logans' resilience, supported by their united relationships. By
prioritizing family, they find strength to overcome racial oppression and economic
hardship. (L)
THE ABOVE ANSWERS ARE BASED ON STUDENTS P.O.V.s
OR
Q2. ‘Stacey’s friendship with T.J Avery proves to be a negative influence on him and
creates problems for him and his family. Stacey’s siblings also prefer to keep their
distance from T.J Avery.’
●
Support the above statement by providing two pieces of evidence from
chapters 1-6.
a.
●
Your answer should have a proper point and link.
●
Evidence must be explained properly.
T.J convinces Stacey to sneak into the Wallace's general store, which results in
Stacey getting into trouble. This incident shows how T.J's influence leads Stacey into
reckless behavior, causing problems for himself and potentially his family.
b.
Little Man and Cassie express their distrust of T.J, with Little Man calling him
"no-account" and Cassie agreeing. This demonstrates that Stacey's siblings prefer to
keep their distance from T.J, indicating they sense something negative about his
influence.
c.
The cheating incident.
THE ABOVE ANSWERS ARE BASED ON STUDENTS P.O.V.s
Section E: Poetry
Read the poems and answer the questions that follow.
Daffodils by William Wordsworth
(_____/10)
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
The Sea by James Reeves
The sea is a hungry dog,
Giant and grey.
He rolls on the beach all day.
With his clashing teeth and shaggy jaws
Hour upon hour he gnaws
The rumbling, tumbling stones,
And ‘Bones, bones, bones, bones! ‘
The giant sea-dog moans,
Licking his greasy paws.
And when the night wind roars And the moon rocks in the stormy cloud,
He bounds to his feet and snuffs and sniffs,
Shaking his wet sides over the cliffs,
And howls and hollos long and loud.
But on quiet days in May or June,
When even the grasses on the dune
Play no more their reedy tune,
With his head between his paws
He lies on the sandy shores,
So quiet, so quiet, he scarcely snores.
Q1. Compare and contrast the major themes of both the poems.
a.
(_____/6)
Nature’s beauty: explaining how beautiful the daffodils looked. How the great sea
looked dark and lonely.
b.
Freedom: Daffodils dancing in the breeze symbolize unchecked joy. The sea's
endless expanse represents limitless possibility.
c.
The Human Condition: The poems explores human emotions, experiences, and
the search for meaning.
THE ABOVE ANSWERS ARE BASED ON STUDENTS P.O.V.s
Q2. Provide one example of each Figurative language from the poems given above.
(____/4)
Metaphors:
1. "I wandered lonely as a cloud" (comparing the poet to a cloud)
2. "Continuous as the stars that shine" (comparing daffodils to stars)
3. "The sea is a desert of waves" (comparing the sea to a desert)
4. "A wilderness of water" (comparing the sea to a wilderness)
Personifications:
1. "The waves beside them danced" (giving waves human-like action)
2. "The daffodils swayed and fluttered" (giving daffodils human-like movement)
3. "The sea's vastness holds a strange solace" (giving the sea human-like comfort)
4. "The waves...seem to sleep" (giving waves human-like rest)