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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was one of the causes for the Movement to begin?

2. What does porridge remind Mugo of?

3. How did the agricultural officer die?

4. In "Chapter 1", what does Mugo say working the land used to do to him?

5. In "Chapter 1," what is the Party?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Chapter 4," what does the narrator say about trains?

2. How does Mr. Thompson help Karanja with the dog in "Chapter 4"?

3. What does Gikonyo do in Nairobi in "Chapter 6"?

4. In "Chapter 5," what does Mrs. Thompson remember about Van Dyke?

5. How does Gikonyo change after spending time in the concentration camps?

6. Why does General R. bring up Karanja in "Chapter 3"?

7. In "Chapter 2," what explanation is given for the Movement?

8. How does the narrator say Gikonyo courted Mumbi?

9. What brought Mr. Thompson to Africa?

10. How does Gikonyo's father throwing him and his mother out change him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What message does the author convey about martyrdom? Some of the characters, like Kihika, Mugo, and Thompson, are likened to martyrs. Why might this be?

Essay Topic 2

Gikonyo's story is considered tragic by the narrator. Is Gikonyo tragic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Research Kenyan independence and analyze the historical accuracy in this novel.

(see the answer keys)

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