Genesis Begins Again

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. In Chapter 2, Genesis watches Dr. Oz on TV with her grandma and asks her grandma if she puts anything else on her skin’s dark spots to lighten them aside from lemon juice. How does her grandma respond?

A) She admonishes Genesis for asking her invasive questions.

B) She says she also exfoliates.

C) She tells Genesis that she is too young to be worried about age spots.

D) She says she also uses bleach.

2. When Mama and Genesis move into their “dream home” after being evicted in Chapter 3, why are they hesitant to unpack?

A) Emory told them to wait until he was back from the pizza place, because he wanted to help them unpack.

B) Mama thinks it is bad luck to unpack before they have been able to “cleanse” the new space with sage.

C) As they brought their suitcases into the home their white neighbors shouted insulting remarks at them.

D) They fear that the situation is too good to be true and that Emory is going to let them down again.

3. In Chapter 5, when Genesis first arrives at her new middle school, she only encounters one Black adult in the entire school. Who is it?

A) Mrs. Hill, the chorus teacher

B) Mrs. Johnson, the biology teacher

C) Mr. Davis, the algebra teacher

D) Mr. Clarke, the art teacher

4. In chorus class, Genesis finds herself going deep into a memory of when she and her parents were evicted the previous October. What song is the class singing when Genesis has this flashback?

A) “Kookaburra Song”

B) “Follow the Drinking Gourd”

C) “Baby Beluga”

D) “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”

5. Genesis scrubs away at “the blackest parts of [her]” in Chapter 14. What does she use to scrub?

A) A sponge

B) A washcloth

C) A piece of sandpaper

D) A scouring pad

6. What is demonstrated about Genesis’s character when she cuts apart her black button-down shirt in Chapter 18, after Emory is unapologetic for his behavior?

A) It shows she is evolving into a vengeful and aggressive teen.

B) It shows she is, in a sense, self-harming as a way of showing pain and distress toward her father.

C) It shows seeds of growth, even if done in anger, as she decides then and there that she will no longer “pretend.”

D) It shows her intolerance toward Blackness in all its forms, even a black shirt.

7. What song does Genesis choose to sing for the talent show auditions?

A) “My Girl” by The Temptations

B) “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong

C) “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

D) “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5

8. When Genesis tells Yvette that she will not be able to perform with her and Belinda at the talent show, how does Yvette react?

A) She bursts into tears and runs away from Genesis.

B) She becomes angry and calls Genesis names that poke fun at the spots on her face.

C) She laughs and does not believe Genesis.

D) She is concerned for Genesis and questions her decision.

9. Who are the first, second, and third place winners of the talent show (in order)?

A) Nia, Troy, Genesis

B) Troy, Yvette’s group, Nia

C) Genesis, Yvette’s group, Troy

D) Nia, Genesis, Yvette’s group

10. Genesis and Emory have an emotional discussion after the talent show. What reassurance does Genesis leave Emory?

A) That he is not alone.

B) That she will always be his little girl.

C) That she is very proud of him.

D) That she will always love him.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. What is the meaning of the word “genesis”? What larger meaning does it symbolize for Genesis’s character and for the narrative as a whole?

2. Genesis’s final conversation with Emory highlights her growth over the course of the novel. How does this conversation show she has grown?