Monday's Not Coming

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

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following most demonstrates Claudia’s determination to find Monday?

A) Claudia attending the basketball game

B) Claudia confronting Mrs. Charles

C) Claudia working in the learning center

D) Claudia staying at her grandmother’s

2. In what ways are Claudia and Monday similar?

A) They both excel at writing, love school, and hope to work together as lawyers.

B) They both admire their fathers, face racism, and must move due to gentrification.

C) They both are close with their brothers, are youngest children, and are quick to fight.

D) They both love dancing, experience bullying, and feel lucky to be each other’s friend.

3. How does gentrification affect Monday’s family and their neighbors?

A) Gentrification gets Monday’s uncle evicted, which leads to him losing his job.

B) Monday’s family helps gentrify a new neighborhood, and the neighbors are angry.

C) Monday’s family and neighbors are getting evicted due to gentrification.

D) Monday’s school became overcrowded due to gentrification.

4. Which of the following best describes Claudia’s reaction to the song her dance teacher chooses for her solo?

A) She is excited because it is a song Monday loves.

B) She is annoyed because it is her least favorite song.

C) She is unaffected because any song is fine.

D) She is disappointed because it is too slow.

5. Which of the following best describes the relationship between Claudia and her mother?

A) Claudia and her mother are close, her mother is fiercely protective and strict.

B) Claudia and her mother disagree often and go days without speaking.

C) Claudia’s mother is abusive, and Claudia is terrified of her.

D) Claudia cares about her mother, but her mother does not reciprocate.

6. How does Claudia’s mother (Ma) feel about Monday’s mother (Mrs. Charles)?

A) The two used to be close friends, but recently Ma started to dislike Mrs. Charles.

B) Ma used to distrust Mrs. Charles but by the end of the novel is grateful to her.

C) Ma dislikes how Mrs. Charles interacts with her daughter, which intensifies later.

D) Ma is unsure about Mrs. Charles, until she saves Claudia’s life.

7. Which of the following most develops the theme of Perception Versus Reality in the novel?

A) Claudia hearing the buzzing sound

B) Claudia disliking the learning center

C) Monday overhearing her grandmother

D) Monday wanting to attend Banneker

8. Why is painting nails important to Claudia?

A) Claudia excels at painting nails and finds acceptance through it.

B) Claudia began painting nails at Monday’s funeral.

C) Claudia was expelled for painting nails, and she now paints as a protest.

D) Claudia helped save April’s life by painting nails.

9. How does Claudia feel about April?

A) Claudia is slightly intimidated by April; then they become best friends.

B) Claudia is jealous of April’s relationship with Monday until they talk after the funeral.

C) Claudia wants to be best friends with April until April steals from the school.

D) Claudia does not care about April; then she despises her for lying.

10. When Monday is not there, who is Claudia’s only ally at school?

A) Shayla

B) Ms. Valente

C) A security guard

D) April

11. How does Claudia’s mom demonstrate that she cares about Monday?

A) Claudia’s mom brings Monday and her family groceries after working at the soup kitchen each week.

B) Claudia’s mom goes to Monday’s conference with her teacher and helps her get an appointment at the learning center.

C) Claudia’s mom helps Monday write her essay for Banneker, staying up until two o’ clock in the morning.

D) Claudia’s mom takes Monday to the salon after a hair dye accident and calls authorities when worried about her.

12. What literary strategy does this quotation include?

“I try to look like shadows on a page when I dance. Imagining myself the color of rocks at the bottom of the river, every movement casting a ripple behind the next. The few seconds before I leap off the floor and arch my head back, I’m a perfect summer rain cloud.” (Chapter 15)

A) Metaphor

B) Alliteration

C) Pun

D) Allusion

13. How does her father’s music impact Claudia?

A) Claudia is embarrassed about her father playing his music at school.

B) Claudia tries to join the band but is rejected quickly.

C) Claudia loves her father’s music and learns the history behind it.

D) Claudia cannot sleep due to her father practicing every night.

14. How are Monday and Michael similar?

A) Both try to be there for Claudia and fail.

B) Both are quick to fight others.

C) Both turn to their family for support.

D) Both take care of others.

15. What is the symbolism of the journals?

A) The journals give Claudia and Monday a voice.

B) The journals are a way for Claudia’s bullies to change.

C) The journals provide a gateway to Claudia’s grandmother’s past.

D) The journals offer hope for Monday as she dances.

Long Answer

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

1. Why do Claudia and April think Monday’s funeral was awful?

2. What are some signs Claudia is healing at the end of the novel?