Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

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

Multiple Choice

1. What role does Irvin play with regard to Sturdyvant and the band?

A) Intermediary between cultures

B) Legal adviser

C) Marketing manager

D) Craft service agent

2. What is the significance of the music markets Sturdyvant and Irvin cite, including Harlem, Memphis, Birmingham, and Atlanta?

A) Cities with East and West Coast locations

B) Cities with segregation

C) Cities with blues musicians

D) Cities with large Black populations

3. Why is it significant that “Moonshine Blues” is one of Bessie’s songs?

A) If it’s Bessie Smith’s song, then Ma could be sued.

B) If it’s Bessie Smith’s song, then it isn’t Ma’s.

C) If it’s Bessie Smith’s song, then she needs to sign off on its use.

D) If it’s Bessie Smith’s song, then they should use Bessie’s band.

4. In what way are Levee’s shoes symbolic?

A) They represent musical skill.

B) They represent his manhood.

C) They represent social mobility.

D) They represent his youth.

5. Why does Ma want Sylvester in the band?

A) She knows she won’t have to pay him.

B) She uses her success to help her family.

C) She wants to replace Levee with Sylvester.

D) She wants to add a fifth member to the band.

6. Why does Levee admire his father?

A) He likes the way his father protected his mother without harming anyone.

B) He believes his father had good business sense when he sold the farm.

C) He thinks his father proved himself as smarter than white men.

D) He appreciates the way his father protected the family by moving.

7. How do Levee’s and Sturdyvant’s views regarding Levee’s song differ?

A) Levee sees economics; Sturdyvant sees appreciation.

B) Levee sees equality; Sturdyvant sees segregation.

C) Levee sees art; Sturdyvant sees pop culture.

D) Levee sees opportunity; Sturdyvant sees exploitation.

8. What does Ma mean when she says, “You don’t sing to feel better, you sing to live”?

A) The blues are a good way to make money and pay bills.

B) The blues provide better work than farming or labor.

C) The blues validate the lives of Black people.

D) The blues provide opportunities for female independence.

9. What is Levee’s argument with God?

A) God picks and chooses which prayers to answer.

B) God doesn’t show up to protect Black people from abuse.

C) God loves Black people but leaves them to their own lessons.

D) God punishes Black people because they ask for too much.

10. What does Levee’s knife symbolize?

A) Controlled anger

B) Masculine power

C) Unresolved hatred

D) Desired death

11. In considering Sturdyvant’s character and previous intentions, what is the most likely reason he is willing to buy Levee’s songs?

A) To ask a white artist to record them

B) To throw them in the trash

C) To ask Ma to record them

D) To stop Levee from bothering him

12. In what way does Sturdyvant “step on Levee’s shoes”?

A) He cuts Levee’s pay for ruining the recording.

B) He doesn’t pay Levee for the day’s work.

C) He doesn’t help Levee get his job back.

D) He crushes Levee’s dream of his having own band.

13. Following Sturdyvant’s disrespect, why does Levee attack Toledo?

A) Levee thinks Toledo makes fun of him.

B) Levee thinks Toledo disrespects him too.

C) Levee thinks Toledo sides with Sturdyvant.

D) Levee thinks Toledo doesn’t recognize his pain.

14. Why is Levee unable to face Toledo’s eyes?

A) The eyes are frightening.

B) The eyes are accusing.

C) The eyes are crying.

D) The eyes are dancing.

15. At the play’s end, why does Cutler ask Slow Drag to get Mr. Irvin?

A) Slow Drag cannot be trusted to protect Levee.

B) Cutler wants nothing more from Levee.

C) Mr. Irvin will help Levee with the police.

D) Levee must be held accountable for his crime.

Long Answer

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

1. What does the play say about being Black in the 1920s?

2. Why is it significant that it’s Toledo whom Levee attacks?