Name
Date
“Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop” by Rebecca Walker
Selection Test A
Learning About Nonfiction Identify the letter of the choice that best answers the question.
1. Essays, articles, and speeches are all works of nonfiction. Which of the following is an accurate statement about the authors of nonfiction?
A. They are always real people.
B. Their style is always full of figurative language.
C. They usually focus on retelling historical events.
D. Their tone is always objective.
2. Some works of nonfiction examine and discuss a focused topic and include the
writer’s personal viewpoints. This type of nonfiction is known as which of the
following?
A. speech
B. essay
C. lyric
D. short story
3. In a work of nonfiction that includes the writer’s viewpoint, why does the
author’s style deserve the attention of readers?
A. The author’s style helps readers to understand the topic.
B. The style of the writing is often more important than the topic.
C. An author’s style often reflects his or her personality.
D. Style can lead to bias, and readers need to be alert.
Critical Reading
4. When Rebecca Walker began her seventh-grade year at Public School 141 in the
Bronx, what made a vivid impression on her?
A. the teachers’ enthusiasm for their classes
B. the winning record of the athletic teams
C. the broad variety of courses being taught
D. the diversity and energy of the student body
5. According to Rebecca Walker, hip-hop today is which of the following?
A. a swiftly passing fad
B. a global industry
C. on a long, slow decline
D. much better than it used to be
Unit 3 Resources: Types of Nonfiction
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
8
Name
Date
6. From details in “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop,” which of the following can you
conclude about the author?
A. She loved popular music when she was young.
B. She had a special interest in classical music.
C. She preferred dance to any other art form.
D. She wanted to study painting and sculpture in school.
7. Read the following excerpt from “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop.”
The “breakers” moved in “crews” that competed against each other. Standing in a
circle we watched as members of the different groups “moonwalked” into the
center, and then hurled themselves to the floor. . . .
Which of the following terms correctly describes the words in quotation marks
in the passage?
A. figurative language
B. symbolism
C. slang
D. sarcasm
8. In “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop,” what did the author’s friends Loida and
Diane teach her about?
A. how to wear her hair
B. radio stations and other neighborhoods
C. name chains and designer jeans
D. Puerto Rico and Haiti
9. Read the following excerpt from “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop.”
I learned how good it could feel to move with a “posse,” a group of friends who had
my back no matter what.
What character trait is the author praising in the passage?
A. generosity
B. ambition
C. loyalty
D. pride
10. According to the author of “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop,” her seventh-grade
experiences were important because they taught her which of the following?
A. how to choose fashionable outfits
B. words from a number of different languages
C. valuable lessons about real life
D. how to play a musical instrument
Unit 3 Resources: Types of Nonfiction
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
9
Name
Date
11. The author of “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop” has an attitude toward the subject
and the readers of her writing. What is this attitude called?
A. style
B. perspective
C. tone
D. purpose
12. From details in “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop,” you can conclude that the
author feels which of the following about present-day hip-hop?
A. It is superior in every way to original hip-hop.
B. It has lost the international flavor of original hip-hop.
C. It has lost some of the spontaneous joy of original hip-hop.
D. Unlike original hip-hop, styles today emphasize dancing over music.
13. “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop” might best be described as what kind of essay?
A. expository
B. reflective
C. persuasive
D. humorous
14. Rebecca Walker states that original hip-hop was the product of which of the following?
A. a bunch of kids from different places trying to communicate
B. the expensive packaging efforts of big corporations
C. the international popularity of music stars
D. a new dance style called breakdancing
Essay
15. What does Rebecca Walker want readers to get out of reading “Before Hip-Hop Was
Hip-Hop”? What are some of Walker’s main ideas about original hip-hop and hiphop today? Write an essay in which you discuss Rebecca Walker’s message about
hip-hop. Support your points with specific references to the selection.
16. In many essays, the reader gets an idea of the writer’s personality through the
writer’s use of language. “Before Hip-Hop Was Hip-Hop” contains numerous references to pop culture, including song titles, slang, and details about clothing and
music. Write an essay in which you discuss Rebecca Walker’s use of distinctive language. Why do you think she uses this kind of language? What does it suggest to
you about Walker’s personality? Support your response with specific references to
the selection.
Unit 3 Resources: Types of Nonfiction
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
10