Mahalia Jackson

questions

Question 1 • What genre is Mahalia Jackson?

Expository Nonfiction

Biography will also be acceptable

Question 2 • What vocabulary word means a group of

singers who sing together, often in a church service?• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Choir

Question 3 • What is the author’s purpose? WHY?

• To entertain• To inform• To make you feel or think• To persuade

To inform – about a persons life or blues

To make you feel or think – blues is all about feeling something deep inside, think about slavery and

it’s effects.

Question 4 • What vocabulary word means think

highly of; value; enjoy?• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Appreciate

Question 5 • What is the main idea in the

following passage?

• “But the blues is not only a feeling. It’s also a kind of music that cures the blues. The words of a blues song might be sad, but the music and the beat wrap around your heart like one of your grandmother’s hugs.”

The main idea is the blues is not only a feeling, but a kind of music to cure this

feeling.

Question 6 • What vocabulary word means much interested in

the belief, study, and worship of God or gods; devoted to religion?

• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Religious

Question 7 • The roots of blues go back to slavery.

What is an antonym for slavery?

Freedom

Question 8 • What vocabulary word means person whose

business is cutting hair and shaving or trimming beards?• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Barber

Question 9 • What is the main idea in the

following paragraph?

• “One of the ways black people fought against slavery was with the breath in their bodies. They wove hope on the air by singing songs called spirituals – songs for the spirit. Their bodies were in slavery, but it didn’t mean their spirits had to be buried in sorrow as white as fog.”

Singing spirituals helped people survive slavery.

Question 10 • What vocabulary word means the condition of

being owned by another person and being made to work without wages?

• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Slavery

Question 11 • Is the following statement a fact or

opinion?

• “Her father worked on the docks during the day…”

Fact

It can be proven true or false.

Question 12 • What vocabulary word means a

person in his or her teens?• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Teenager

Question 13 • What is the main idea in the

following selection?• “Mahalia grew up loving music, and the person she

wanted to sing like was none other than Bessie Smith. But Mahalia’s aunt was very religious, and she took Mahalia to church every day. When talking about her childhood, Mahalia said that in her church, ‘everybody sang and clapped and stomped their feet, a rhythm we held on to from slavery days, and the music was so strong and expressive, it used to bring the tears to my eyes.’ It was in church that Mahalia first started singing.”

The main idea is that Mahalia grew up loving

music.

Question 14 • What vocabulary word means permitted to

published, shown, sold, etc?

• Appreciate• Barber• Choir• Released• Religious• Slavery• Teenager

Released

Question 15 • Why do you think the author wrote, “She could

hold a note until you thought she should run out of breath…”?

The author wanted to help the reader visualize Mahalia’s singing style.

Question 16 • What is the main idea of the whole

story?

The main idea is that the roots of the blues go back

to slavery; they helped enslave people survive

slavery by giving them a chance to express their

feelings.