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Gloria Naylor, “The Meanings of a Word”

According to Naylor, “words themselves are innocuous,” so what gives them power?

A. Violence

B. Sounds

C. Consensus

D. Dialogue

What is true about the conversations that occurred in Naylor’s grandmother’s living room in Harlem?

A. They never included the word “nigger”

B. They were chaotic but still followed a strict set of rules

C. They rarely included gossip

D. They excluded children

Why didn’t Naylor register the previous time she’d heard the word “nigger” used?

A. Because it was always whispered

B. Because of the situations in which she heard it and the ways it was spoken

C. Because it was spelled out

D. Because she didn’t speak English well

What other word does Naylor discuss as one that changes its meaning based on its context and inflection?

A. Boy

B. Dog

C. Man

D. Girl

What is Naylor’s concluding point about her family’s casual use of the word “nigger”?

A. That it took the power out of an otherwise harmful word

B. That it was disrespectful towards others in the black community

C. That it indicated internalized racism

D. That it offended her grandmother