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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. During the war, who requested Jonathan's bicycle for "urgent" action?

2. Who had built what had now become a "mountain of rubble?

3. Where did Jonathan's taxi go?

4. How did Maria and the children feel when they moved back into the family house?

5. How did people feel about paying Jonathan the fare?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jonathan realize after the soldier tries to commandeer his bicycle?

2. What does the greeting "happy survival" signify?

3. Why is "egg-rasher" being issued?

4. Why does Jonathan again feel so lucky after visiting the closed offices of his employer?

5. How does Jonathan acquire building materials?

6. In Paragraph 2, how did Maria get extra food for the family?

7. What could Jonathan's home and the destroyed concrete edifice symbolize about how the civil war impacted Nigeria and Biafra?

8. How does the Iwegbu family behavior show their ability to adapt and survive?

9. Is Jonathan's bicycle important to him? Why or why not?

10. What significance is the Coal Corporation to Jonathan and others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several one-dimensional characters are used in Civil Peace: man whose money is stolen, thief leader and his men, the neighbors, the Iwegbu kids. Which ones had the most significant impact on Jonathan? On the story? Support with story details.

Essay Topic 2

Achebe presents several themes in this story. How does the Iwegbu family embody each of these specific themes: survival, family cohesiveness, and resourcefulness?

Essay Topic 3

Jonathan's greatest miracle is his family's survival of the civil war. He holds them most dear, above even his buried bicycle and his still standing home. How does his behavior during the conflict with the thieves and immediately after the conflict support or reinforce his high value of his family.

(see the answer keys)

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