Reading and Writing English Exam 2021

ACT 3 A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry

Section A
1. VOCABULARY ACT IVIT Y
Instructions:

1. Use the word bank below to complete the summary of Act 3 below. Each word should be used
once.
2. Write your answers in the table below each paragraph

dream , questioning, unsigned, stereotype, power, demoralizes, agitated, protests, contracts, gray,
noticeably, reform, idealistic, sarcastic, plant, hesitantly, exchange, downtrodden, reprimands, colonizers,
died, melancholy, pride, appeals, hardworking, proposition

One hour later on moving day, everyone is still __(1)__. The stage directions indicate that even
the light in the apartment looks __(2)__. Walter sits alone and thinks. Asagai comes to help them
pack and finds Beneatha __(3)__ her choice of becoming a doctor. She no longer believes she can
help people. Instead of feeling __(4)__ about demanding equality for African Americans and freeing
Africans from the French and English __(5)__, she now broods about basic human misery.
Never-ending human misery __(6)__ her, and she no longer sees a reason to fight against it.
Asagai __(7)__ her for her lack of idealism and her attachment to the money from her father’s
death. He tells Beneatha about his __(8)__ to return to Africa and help bring positive changes. He
gets her excited about __(9)__ again and asks her to go home with him to Africa, saying that
eventually it would be as if she had “only been away for a day.” He leaves her alone to think about
his __(10)__.

1] 4] 7] 10]

2] 5] 8]

3] 6] 9]

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 Walter rushes in from the bedroom and out the door amid a __(11)__ monologue from Beneatha.
Mama enters and announces they are not going to move. Ruth __(12)__. Walter returns, having called
Mr. Lindner and invited him back to the apartment. Walter intends to take Lindner’s offer of money in
__(13)__ for not moving to Clybourne Park. Everyone objects to this plan, arguing that they have too
much __(14)__ to accept not being able to live somewhere because of their race. Walter, very
__(15)__, puts on an act, imitating the __(16)__ of a black male servant. When he finally exits,
Mama declares that he has __(17)__ inside. Beneatha decides that he is no longer her brother, but
Mama reminds her to love him, especially when he is so __(18)__.

11] 14] 17]

12] 15] 18]

13] 16]

The movers and Mr. Lindner arrive. Mama tells Walter to deal with Mr. Lindner, who is laying
out __(19)__ for Walter to sign. Walter starts __(20)__, but soon we see that he has changed
his mind about taking Mr. Lindner’s money. His speech builds in __(21)__. He tells Mr. Lindner that
the Youngers are proud and __(22)__ and intend to move into their new house. Mr. Lindner
__(23)__ to Mama, who defers to Walter’s statement. Ultimately, Mr. Lindner leaves with his papers
__(24)__. Everyone finishes packing up as the movers come to take the furniture. Mama tells Ruth
that she thinks Walter has finally become a __(25)__ man by standing up to Mr. Lindner.

19] 22] 25]

20] 23]

21] 24]

Marks:

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 2. COMPREHENSION
[answers that don't include explanations based on the text will not score well]

1] Explain Mama's comment that "Sometimes you just got to know when to give up some things . . . and
hold on to what you got" 3pts

2] What is Walter's solution to the family's financial troubles? 2pts

3] Why doesn't Mama support Walter's view? 3pts

4] When Walter arrives back home, what does he say he has done? 2pts

5] What does Walter plan to do? 2pts

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6] How does the loss of the money affect: 3pts

Walter:

Beneatha:

Mama:

7] Do you think Beneatha should accept Asagai’s proposal of marriage and move to Africa? Why or
why not? 3pts

8] What causes [3 reasons] Walter to finally reject Lindner's offer? 3pts

9] What predictions [give 3] can you make for the Youngers, based on the resolution/ending of the
play? 3pts

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Marks

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 3. CHARACT ER PROFILES

What do you think of each character based on what they do and say in this Act. Include 1 example
from the text to support your answer

Asagai - 2pts

Beneatha -2pts

Ruth - 2pts

Mama - 2pts

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Walter - 2pts

Mr. Lindner- 2pts

Travis - 2pts

Marks

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 4. T HEMES IN A RAISIN IN T HE SUN
Below are 3 of the major themes in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.
For each one, you will need to find 3 specific pieces of evidence from ACT 3 that support the theme.
Cite a page number for each direct quote. Quotes/ evidence with no page numbers will not not be
awarded any marks

T HEME 1: RACIAL DISCRIMINAT ION

Page no 1 pt Quotes/ Evidence 2pts

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 T HEME 2 : T HE AMERICAN DREAM

Page no 1 pt Quotes/ Evidence 2pts

T HEME 3: FAMILY VALUES

Page no 1 pt Quotes/ Evidence 2pts

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Marks

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 Section B: Extended Response [25mks]
Answer one of the questions in this section
Write 1 page and a half allowing for the size of your handwriting

1. Writing Newspaper article:

Pretend you are a journalist and have been asked to write an article about the first black family moving
to Clybourne park. Decide which of the characters to interview and write down questions to ask. Include
an eye catching title for your article

2. Diary Writing:
Pretend you are a character in this Act (III), write a diary entry for the day. Write down not only what
happened but how you felt about it

3. Letter Writing
You are Beneatha in the play, write a letter to either Joseph or George explaining why you cannot
marry him.

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ANSWER SHEETS

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