Strong Horse Tea Quiz

Strong horse tea Quiz

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. At the beginning of the story, Rannie Toomer is deeply worried about her baby, Snooks. What specific and severe illness is the child 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

A. Double pneumonia and whooping cough

2. The narrative establishes Rannie Toomer’s social standing and self-perception early on. How does Rannie feel about herself at the beginning of the story?

A. Unmarried, not pretty, and not “anybody much”
B. Proud of her social standing
C. Pretty and popular
D. Married and respected

A. Unmarried, not pretty, and not “anybody much”

3. Rannie’s devotion to her sick child is shown through her neglect of herself. How many days had Rannie gone without washing since Snooks fell ill?

A. A week
B. Five days
C. Three days
D. Two days

B. Five days

4. An old neighboring lady named Sarah represents the world of folk magic and tradition. How is she described?

A. A relative offering money
B. Wears magic leaves and a dried lizard’s foot
C. Rannie’s grandmother
D. A nurse from the town

B. Wears magic leaves and a dried lizard’s foot

5. Rannie is skeptical of the traditional cures offered by her neighbor. What dismissive term does Rannie use to describe Sarah’s “old home remedies”?

A. Traditional cures
B. Old wives’ tales
C. Swamp magic
D. Herbal treatments

C. Swamp magic

6. Rannie has a personal and painful reason for distrusting folk medicine. Why does she initially reject Sarah’s old home remedies?

A. They are too expensive
B. She claims they almost killed her as a child
C. She prefers modern medicine
D. She believes they are ineffective

B. She claims they almost killed her as a child

7. The story emphasizes the severity of the baby’s illness through his appearance. How is the sick child, Snooks, described as he lies under the quilts?

A. A crying, restless baby
B. A lively, energetic child
C. A sleeping, peaceful infant
D. A small, putty-like mound

D. A small, putty-like mound

8. The narrative uses a vivid simile to describe the baby’s labored breathing. What is Snooks’ faint, difficult breathing compared to?

A. A gentle sigh
B. A steady, normal rhythm
C. A loud wheezing
D. Pushing damp papers in a ditch

D. Pushing damp papers in a ditch

9. Rannie places her faith in modern help from the outside world. Who did she tell her baby, Snooks, that she had sent for to get help?

A. The mailman
B. The local clinic
C. The minister
D. A relative

A. The mailman

10. Rannie’s previous interactions with the mailman show her poverty. What did she once ask him for extra advertising circulars for?

A. To make paper dolls
B. To paper the inside of her house
C. To sell for a profit
D. To learn how to read

B. To paper the inside of her house

11. The mailman holds prejudiced views about Rannie’s intelligence. How did he perceive Rannie’s desperate plea for help?

A. As unusually polite
B. As looking more ignorant than usual
C. As surprisingly well-informed
D. As cheerful despite the rain

B. As looking more ignorant than usual

12. The mailman is physically repulsed by Rannie’s poverty. What specific things about her made him recoil?

A. Her loud voice
B. Her breath and smell
C. Her aggressive manner
D. Her persistent questions

B. Her breath and smell

13. Distracted and wanting to get away, what useless items did the mailman absent-mindedly hand to Rannie?

A. Medicine for Snooks
B. Money for a doctor
C. Circulars for hair driers and cold creams
D. A map to the hospital

C. Circulars for hair driers and cold creams

14. The mailman’s prejudice is further revealed through a derogatory comparison. What did he compare Rannie Mae’s smell to?

A. Damp earth
B. Fresh rain
C. A wet goat
D. Stale smoke

C. A wet goat

15. The mailman’s discomfort is rooted in his racial and class biases. Why was he ultimately so 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

A. She was black and didn’t smell good

16. Feeling a mix of pity and discomfort, what is the one suggestion the mailman offers to Rannie as a way to help her sick child?

A. He would take Snooks to the doctor
B. He suggested trying Sarah’s home remedies
C. He would call the doctor himself
D. He offered to lend her money

B. He suggested trying Sarah’s home remedies

17. Rannie’s desperation clashes with her deep-seated mistrust of folk remedies. How did she react to the mailman’s suggestion to use them?

A. She considered it for a moment
B. She violently shook her head “NO!”
C. She agreed immediately
D. She thanked him for the suggestion

B. She violently shook her head “NO!”

18. The mailman’s patience finally breaks when Rannie’s desperation overflows. What action made him furious with her?

A. Asking for more circulars
B. Yelling and grabbing his shoulder
C. Refusing to leave
D. Her lack of gratitude

B. Yelling and grabbing his shoulder

19. After Rannie physically touched his shoulder, how did the mailman react?

A. Offered more advice
B. Got out of the car to confront her
C. Promised to help
D. Rolled up the window and drove away

D. Rolled up the window and drove away

20. After being abandoned by the mailman, what did Rannie do with the useless, wet circulars?

A. Trampled them under her feet
B. Put them in her coat pocket
C. Tried to dry them
D. Took them inside her house

A. Trampled them under her feet

21. Shortly after the mailman’s departure, who unexpectedly arrived at Rannie’s isolated house?

A. A town doctor
B. Old Sarah
C. A local preacher
D. Another neighbour

B. Old Sarah

22. Why was Rannie unable to pretend she wasn’t home when Sarah knocked on her door?

A. Smoke was coming from the chimney
B. Her door was open
C. Her dog was barking
D. She was singing loudly

A. Smoke was coming from the chimney

23. Rannie is still wary of Sarah’s methods. What did she make Sarah do with her “bag of tricks” before letting her in?

A. Put it in the shed
B. Hide it behind a tree
C. Bring it inside
D. Leave it on the front porch

D. Leave it on the front porch

24. As Sarah enters, what was Rannie’s cynical initial thought regarding Sarah’s magical remedies?

A. It was the only hope for Snooks
B. It was powerful and trustworthy
C. Sarah should use some on herself
D. It was harmless but useless

C. Sarah should use some on herself

25. After Rannie has been waiting anxiously for the town doctor, what definitive and disheartening news does Sarah deliver to her?

A. He got lost in the storm
B. He is on his way
C. “He ain’t coming.”
D. He will arrive shortly

C. “He ain’t coming.”

26. How does Sarah explain her sudden appearance at Rannie’s house, connecting it to the mailman?

A. She was just passing by
B. She came to offer comfort
C. The mailman “fetched the doctor” (her)
D. Another neighbour told her

C. The mailman “fetched the doctor” (her)

27. In a moment of authority and certainty, what does Sarah declare herself to be for Rannie’s child?

A. A miracle worker
B. “The doctor, child.”
C. A true friend
D. A willing helper

B. “The doctor, child.”

28. As Rannie finally breaks down and cries, what happens to the sound of Snooks’ breathing?

A. It seems to drown out the downpour
B. It becomes quieter
C. It remains unchanged
D. It stops for a moment

A. It seems to drown out the downpour

29. The severity of the baby’s illness is shown by the color of his skin. What color is Snooks’ skin around his eyes and mouth?

A. Yellowish white
B. Bright red
C. Purplish blue
D. Pale green

C. Purplish blue

30. Sarah performs a physical examination of the baby. How is this examination described?

A. She strips, pokes, and blows on him
B. She only listens to his chest
C. She consults a book of remedies
D. She gives him a shot

A. She strips, pokes, and blows on him

31. Upon realizing that no modern medical help is coming, how does Rannie feel about having waited?

A. Hopeful for modern medicine
B. She feels a stone of guilt
C. Angry towards Sarah
D. Relieved that Sarah is there

B. She feels a stone of guilt

32. After her physical examination of the baby, what grim diagnosis does Sarah give Rannie?

A. He will recover quickly
B. “The child’s dying.”
C. He needs hospital care
D. He has a mild fever

B. “The child’s dying.”

33. To have any hope of saving the child, what does Sarah say is required?

A. A “mighty strong stomach”
B. A new medicine
C. A strong will
D. More time

A. A “mighty strong stomach”

34. Sarah clarifies that it is not herself or the baby who needs this quality. Who does she say needs to have the “strong stomach”?

A. Herself
B. Snooks
C. The mailman
D. Rannie Toomer

D. Rannie Toomer

35. Sarah suggests there is one last, desperate folk remedy that might save him. What specific and unsettling remedy does she propose?

A. A special herb tonic
B. Some good strong horse tea
C. A few drops of cat’s blood
D. A prayer and a blessing

B. Some good strong horse tea

36. As Rannie heads out on her desperate errand to get the “horse tea,” what is the weather like?

A. Sunny and calm
B. Rain falling like small hailstones
C. Windy and cold
D. Foggy and damp

B. Rain falling like small hailstones

37. What specific animal does Rannie look for in the pasture to collect the remedy?

A. A mule
B. A lone gray mare
C. Cows
D. Sheep

B. A lone gray mare

38. In her haste and desperation, what crucial item does Rannie realize she forgot to bring with her?

A. A cloth
B. A bucket
C. Anything to catch the tea in
D. A jar

C. Anything to catch the tea in

39. In a moment of improvisation, what does Rannie try to use as a container for the tea?

A. A large leaf
B. One of her plastic shoes
C. Her cupped hands
D. Her coat pocket

B. One of her plastic shoes

40. What happened to Rannie in the wet and slippery pasture when she tried to take off her shoe?

A. Lightning struck a nearby tree
B. She slipped and fell in the mud
C. The mare ran away
D. She stubbed her toe on a rock

B. She slipped and fell in the mud

41. The narrative describes Rannie’s difficult and messy attempt to collect the horse tea. How does she finally manage it?

A. She finds a cup in the field
B. The mare willingly provides it
C. Catches it in spurts while chasing the mare
D. Waits for it to fill her shoe

C. Catches it in spurts while chasing the mare

42. After Rannie has collected the tea, what does the old mare do to her as it leaves?

A. Snorts and kicks her into the mud
B. Nuzzles her gently
C. Gives her a friendly lick
D. Whinnies and runs away

A. Snorts and kicks her into the mud

43. After being kicked and falling again, what does Rannie discover about her shoe?

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

B. It has a tiny crack at its front

44. In a final, desperate act, how does Rannie stop the precious tea from leaking out of the cracked 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 covers the crack with her hand

A. She puts her mouth over the crack

45. After her ordeal in the pasture, what does Rannie intend to do with the collected horse tea?

A. Drink it herself for strength
B. Give it to her baby Snooks
C. Give it to Sarah for inspection
D. Throw it away in defeat

B. Give it to her baby Snooks

46. While Rannie is out in the storm on her desperate errand, what tragic event happens back at the cabin?

A. Snooks woke up and cried
B. The baby’s frail breathing stopped
C. The baby’s breathing improved
D. Snooks was being cared for by Sarah

B. The baby’s frail breathing stopped

47. Throughout the difficult and demeaning process of collecting the tea, what was Rannie’s emotional state?

A. Calm and focused
B. Annoyed but determined
C. Trembling and crying
D. Full of strange joy

C. Trembling and crying

48. The story emphasizes Rannie’s unkempt state due to her vigil. What was her appearance when she first approached the mailman?

A. Clean and well-dressed
B. Quiet and reserved
C. Sticky eyes and tear tracks on her face
D. Smiling and energetic

C. Sticky eyes and tear tracks on her face

49. The setting highlights Rannie’s isolation and connection to a more prímitive world. How is her home situated in the landscape?

A. In a separate town
B. Far away from animals
C. Surrounded by a pasture with animals
D. In a stable with animals

C. Surrounded by a pasture with animals

50. The title of the story is central to its theme of desperation and folk belief. What does “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 strong herbal tea

C. A folk remedy made from horse urine