Intermediate 2 ‘The Test’ by Angelica Gibb

Pre-reading activiites

‘The Test’ by Angelica Gibb ‘The Test’ is a short story which follows a woman taking her driving test. Before you read the story, think about the following questions:  Would you describe yourself as good or bad at passing exams/tests?  How do you feel when you know you have an exam/test coming up?  Have you ever been given an exam/test that you felt was (genuinely) unfair?

‘The Test’ Active reading

‘The Test’ As you listen/read the story make two lists:  List all the times the driving inspector calls Marian by the wrong name. Each time, take a note of the paragraph number and of the name he calls her.  List of all of the times the driving inspector uses what he thinks is a southern accent, or a southern dialect or expression. Each time, note the paragraph number and then quote what he says.

‘The Test’ Wrong name Southern accent, dialect or expression Paragraph 16 – “Mandy” Paragraph 18 – “Mandy-Lou” Paragraph 25 – “Mandy- Lou” Paragraph 38 – “Mandy” Paragraph 40 – “Mandy” Paragraph 42 – “Mistress Mandy” Paragraph 22 – “pickaninnies” Paragraph 29 – “young blood” Paragraph 30 – “whistle ‘Swanee River’. Make you homesick?” Paragraph 32 – “You-all ain’t” “dog my cats” “You –all” “yondah” Paragraph 34 - “you-all” Paragraph 38 - “You-all sho” “d’you-all” Paragraph 40 – “dog my cats”

‘The Test’ Understanding the story Discuss in groups: 1. When is the first point in the story where we realise that Marian is black and the other characters are white? Paragraph 2 “ ‘ They probably do like it better if a white person shows up with you.’ ” First creates idea that Marion is not white. Paragraph 4 “Mrs Ericson watched her dark competent hands” Clarifies that Marion is black 1. Why does Marian keep failing her driving test? She cannot put up with the instructor’s prejudice comments anymore and loses her temper, “ ‘Damn you!’ ” (paragraph 43) 1. In your opinion, would she have passed if Mrs Ericson had gone along in the car with them?

‘The Test’ This story is obviously about **injustice, prejudice and racism. The author, Angelica Gibb, doesn’t tell us what to think about these serious issues. She doesn’t tell us what she thinks either. Instead she puts her message across by showing how the issues affect one person on one day. **These are the THEMES**

‘The Test’ Remember as we study the text that, while Marion is black, everyone else in the story is white.

‘The Test’ Setting

‘The Test’ 1. Which country do you think the story is set in? This should be easy to answer. Certain words/phrases in the story give you clues.

‘The Test’ Some of these clues are dialect words, words that belong to the kind of English spoken in a certain place. 1. Which word in paragraph 5 tells you the story is set in this country? “flunk” 1. Which word in paragraph 35 tells you the story is set in this country? “blocks” Some of the words used in the story were factual 1. Which word used in para 24 tells you the story is set in this country? “Buick” 1. Which word in paras 26 and 31 tells you the story is set in this country? “Pennsylvania” “Scranton, Pennsylvania” You should be able to work out if the story is set in the north or south of this country. 1. Look at paragraphs 30 and 32. Which area of the country do you think it is set in? “homesick” implies it is in the north as ‘Swannee River’ is in the southern state of Missouri. “you-all ain’t Southern!” suggests they are not in the south We also need to consider the setting in time, as well as place. 1. Look at paragraph 31. What does Marion do that drivers do not need to do nowadays? 1. She signals her turn with a hand signal rather than using an indicator light Finally 1. Did you spot anything else in the story that helped you work out the time or place?

‘The Test’ Setting: Summary These answers all help to place the story in a historical context. Marian is a young black woman living in one of the northern states of the USA. The fact that she has to put out her hand to signal when she turns in the road make it clear that she is driving a car made before indicator lights became standard. (It can’t be simply that she owns an old car. We are told the car belongs to her employer who is wealthy enough to employ staff and not have to work.) This helps to place the story in time – it is taking place in the mid to late 1950s

‘The Test’ Background Context It is important to remember that America was a much more racially divided country in those days. The situation was much worse in the southern states but even in the north, where the story is set, few good jobs were open to black people. Not many black people had any education beyond high school level. The big civil rights movements of the 1960s, and black leaders like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, were not yet active. Although many in America were aware of the injustice around them, there was very little they felt they could do about it.

‘The Test’ Character

‘The Test’  Character: Marion In this section we will be analysing what makes Marian a striking and interesting character.

Character Marian

Marian has managed to get a degree at a time when it would have been very difficult for any black person to do so. She must have had to work before she was at college, and also while she was there, to pay for studies. Also, at the time this story is set, even white women did not often go on to University. Marian must have had to challenge many people’s prejudices and assumptions to get as far as she has already.

Marian Gibb presents Marian as someone who is skilled, and aware. There is lots of evidence throughout the story that Marian is actually a very good driver. Find 5 pieces of evidence to support this argument. 1950s Buick Roadmaster

‘The Test’ EvidenceExplanation Para 3 “Marian drove the car slowly through the shady suburban streets.” Lots of children live in suburbs. By driving slowly Marian will be able to stop if one runs out in to the road. Para 10 ‘ “marvellous to have someone dependable to drive the children to school” ’ Para 17 ‘ “She’s a fine driver inspector” ‘ Marian’s employer is clearly impressed by her driving abilities if she wants her to drive her children every day. She praises her abilities in front of the inspector Para 25 “The two cars were close together…Marian squeezed in between them without too much manoeuvering.” Marian is able to park the car in a tight space without having to correct her steering or angle of entry.

‘The Test’ Marian Summary Gibb wants us to admire Marian, and to dislike the driving instructor who fails her. It’s part of how she puts across her message about racism.

Marian As well as being a skilled driver, Marian is very aware of the situation and society she lives in. There are several occasions in the first 15 paragraphs of the story where Marian knows she is more aware of the situation than her employer. Sometimes we can tell that Mrs Ericson herself realises that Marian knows best. 1950s Buick Roadmaster  Homework for Monday 25 th February  Find 3 pieces of evidence to support this argument.

‘The Test’ EvidenceExplanation Para 2 “They probably do like it better if a white person shows up with you.” Marian understands that the problem the first time wasn’t caused by Bill talking, but by them both being black. Para ‘ “People say they only want you to slip them a little something” ’ ‘ “No,” Marian said, “That would only make it worse.” Marian knows that a bribe would not help and a white instructor would be offended by a black person offering them money. May actually result in the instructor contacting the police. Para 5 ‘ “It takes four mistakes to flunk you,” Marian said, “I don’t remember doing all the things the inspector marked down on my blank.” ’ Marian believes that the inspector marked her test unfairly because of the colour of her skin. Evidence of Marian’s driving skills from later in the story supports this.

‘The Test’ Why does the author work so hard at making Marion seem very able, and much more aware than her employer of what the world is lik?

‘The Test’ The author characterises Marian as being a likeable, determined and socially aware young woman. All of these contribute to the reader being on Marian’s side: we want her to pass her test and “beat” the instructor. The climax of the story is paragraph 43 when Marian finally loses her temper: ‘ “ Damn you!” Marian cried.’ It is at this moment that the reader realises that Marian has failed her test and the driving instructor has “won”. As readers we feel disappointed for Marian and hatred towards the instructor and his prejudice.

‘The Test’ Marian Summary Again, Gibb wants us to admire Marian. The relationship with Mrs Ericson helps to put across Gibb’s message about racism as it shows the naivety and ignorance of some white people to the prejudice that black people face on a daily basis. All of the things that we have looked at so far are part of the author’s characterisation of Marian. So far we have seen that Marian is characterised as being skilful, aware and determined.

‘The Test’