Estimated Reading Time: 14 min
Before you begin the quiz, ensure you have a complete comprehension of the summary of Strong Horse Tea by Alice Walker.
Strong Horse Tea Quiz
1. What illness is Rannie Toomer’s baby, Snooks, suffering from?
A. Double pneumonia and whooping cough
B. Measles and mumps
C. Scarlet fever and a severe cold
D. Bronchitis and a high fever
2. How does Rannie Toomer feel about herself at the beginning of the story?
A. She is not married, not pretty, and not “anybody much”.
B. She is proud of her social standing.
C. She is pretty and popular.
D. She is married and respected.
3. How long had Rannie gone without washing since Snooks got sick?
A. A week
B. Five days
C. Three days
D. Two days
4. Who is the old neighbouring lady, Sarah?
A. A distant relative offering money
B. A woman who wears magic leaves and a dried lizard’s foot
C. Rannie’s grandmother
D. A nurse from town
5. What does Rannie call Sarah’s “old home remedies”?
A. Traditional cures
B. Old wives’ tales
C. Swamp magic
D. Herbal treatments
6. Why does Rannie reject the old home remedies?
A. She thinks they are too expensive.
B. She claims they almost killed her when she was a child.
C. She prefers modern medicine exclusively.
D. She believes they are ineffective.
7. How is Snooks described under the quilts?
A. A crying, restless baby
B. A lively, energetic child
C. A sleeping, peaceful infant
D. A small, putty-like mound
8. What is Snooks’ breathing compared to?
A. A gentle sigh
B. A steady, normal rhythm
C. A loud wheezing
D. Faint rustling like pushing damp papers in a ditch
9. Who did Rannie tell Snooks she sent for help?
A. The mailman
B. The local clinic
C. The minister
D. A relative
10. What did Rannie once ask the mailman for extra circulars for?
A. To make paper dolls
B. To paper the inside of her house
C. To sell for a small profit
D. To learn how to read
11. How did the mailman perceive Rannie when she spoke to him?
A. As unusually polite
B. As looking more ignorant than usual
C. As surprisingly well-informed
D. As cheerful despite the rain
12. What made the mailman recoil from Rannie?
A. Her loud voice
B. Her breath and smell
C. Her aggressive manner
D. Her persistent questions
13. What did the mailman absent-mindedly give Rannie?
A. Medicine for Snooks
B. Money for a doctor
C. Circulars for hair driers and cold creams
D. A map to the nearest hospital
14. What did the mailman compare Rannie Mae’s smell to?
A. Damp earth
B. Fresh rain
C. A wet goat
D. Stale smoke
15. Why was the mailman uneasy around Rannie Mae?
A. She was black and didn’t smell good.
B. She asked too many questions.
C. She was too quiet.
D. She always seemed happy.
16. What idea did the mailman have to help Rannie?
A. He would personally take Snooks to the doctor.
B. He suggested she try Aunt Sarah’s home remedies.
C. He would call the doctor himself.
D. He offered to lend her money.
17. How did Rannie react to the mailman’s suggestion?
A. She considered it for a moment.
B. She almost turned the car over shaking her head “NO!”
C. She agreed immediately.
D. She thanked him for the suggestion.
18. What made the mailman furious with Rannie?
A. Her asking for more circulars
B. Her yelling and grabbing his shoulder
C. Her refusal to leave
D. Her lack of gratitude
19. What did the mailman do after Rannie touched his shoulder?
A. He offered her more advice.
B. He got out of the car to confront her.
C. He promised to help.
D. He hurriedly rolled up the window and drove away.
20. What did Rannie do with the wet circulars after the mailman left?
A. She trampled them under her feet.
B. She put them in her coat pocket.
C. She tried to dry them.
D. She took them inside her house.
21. Who arrived at Rannie’s house shortly after the mailman left?
A. A town doctor
B. Old Sarah
C. A local preacher
D. Another neighbour
22. Why couldn’t Rannie pretend she wasn’t home when Sarah arrived?
A. Smoke was coming from the chimney.
B. Her door was open.
C. Her dog was barking.
D. She was singing loudly.
23. What did Rannie make Sarah do with her “bag of tricks”?
A. Put it in the shed
B. Hide it behind a tree
C. Bring it inside
D. Leave it on the front porch
24. What did Rannie initially think about Sarah’s magic?
A. It was the only hope for Snooks.
B. It was powerful and trustworthy.
C. Sarah ought to use some of it on herself.
D. It was harmless but useless.
25. What does Sarah tell Rannie about the doctor?
A. He got lost in the storm.
B. He is on his way.
C. “He ain’t coming.”
D. He will arrive shortly.
26. How does Sarah explain why she is at Rannie’s house?
A. She just happened to be passing by.
B. She came to offer Rannie comfort.
C. The mailman “done fetched the doctor” (meaning her).
D. She heard about Snooks’ illness from another neighbour.
27. What does Sarah declare herself to be?
A. A miracle worker
B. “The doctor, child.”
C. A friend
D. A helper
28. What happens to Snooks’ breathing as Rannie cries?
A. It seems to drown out the noise of the downpour.
B. It becomes quieter.
C. It remains unchanged.
D. It stops completely for a moment.
29. What color is Snooks’ skin around his eyes and mouth?
A. Yellowish white
B. Bright red
C. Purplish blue
D. Pale green
30. How does Sarah examine the baby?
A. She strips him, pokes him, blows on his chest, and runs fingers along his back.
B. She only listens to his chest.
C. She consults a medical book.
D. She gives him a shot.
31. How does Rannie feel after wasting time waiting for the “real doctor”?
A. Hopeful for modern medicine
B. She feels a stone of guilt
C. Angry towards Sarah
D. Relieved that Sarah is there
32. What does Sarah say about the child’s condition after her examination?
A. He will recover quickly.
B. “The child’s dying.”
C. He needs immediate hospital care.
D. He is just experiencing a mild fever.
33. What does Sarah say is needed to potentially save the child?
A. A “mighty strong stomach”
B. A new medicine
C. A strong will
D. More time
34. Who does Sarah say needs to have the “strong stomach”?
A. Herself
B. Snooks
C. The mailman
D. Rannie Toomer
35. What specific remedy does Sarah suggest can save Snooks?
A. A special herb tonic
B. Some good strong horse tea
C. Cat’s blood
D. A prayer and a blessing
36. What is the weather like when Rannie goes to get the “horse tea”?
A. Sunny and calm
B. Rain falling with the force of small hailstones
C. Windy and cold
D. Foggy and damp
37. What animal does Rannie look for in the pasture?
A. A mule
B. A lone gray mare
C. Cows
D. Sheep
38. What does Rannie realize she forgot to bring?
A. A cloth
B. A bucket
C. Anything to catch the tea in
D. A jar
39. What does Rannie try to use as a container?
A. A leaf
B. One of her plastic shoes
C. Her hands
D. Her coat
40. What happened when Rannie tried to take off her shoe?
A. Lightning struck nearby.
B. She slipped down in the mud.
C. The mare ran away.
D. She stubbed her toe.
41. How does Rannie collect the horse tea?
A. She holds out a cup.
B. The mare willingly provides it.
C. She manages to catch it in spurts and splashes while chasing the mare.
D. She waits patiently for it to fill her shoe.
42. What does the old mare do to Rannie as it leaves?
A. It snorts and kicks her back into the mud.
B. It nuzzles her gently.
C. It gives her a friendly lick.
D. It whinnies and runs away.
43. What does Rannie discover about her shoe after falling?
A. It is full of rainwater.
B. It has a tiny crack at its front.
C. It has lost its shape.
D. It is completely ruined.
44. How does Rannie stop the tea from leaking out of the shoe?
A. She puts her mouth over the crack.
B. She pours it into her other shoe.
C. She wraps a cloth around it.
D. She quickly covers the crack with her hand.
45. What does Rannie plan to do with the horse tea?
A. Drink it herself to gain strength.
B. Give it to her baby Snooks.
C. Give it to Sarah for inspection.
D. Throw it away.
46. What happened to Snooks while Rannie was gone?
A. He woke up and cried.
B. His frail breathing had stopped.
C. His breathing improved.
D. He was being cared for by Sarah.
47. What was Rannie’s emotional state while collecting the tea?
A. Calm and focused
B. Annoyed but determined
C. Trembling and crying
D. Full of joy
48. What was Rannie’s appearance when she approached the mailman?
A. Clean and well-dressed
B. Quiet and reserved
C. Sticky eyes and whitish snail tracks on her ashen face
D. Smiling and energetic
49. How is Rannie’s home situated in the landscape?
A. In a separate town.
B. Far away from any animals.
C. Animals lived in the pasture all around her house.
D. In a stable with the animals.
50. What does the story’s title, “Strong Horse Tea,” refer to?
A. A popular local beverage
B. A medicinal drink for horses
C. A folk remedy made from horse urine
D. A type of herbal tea
