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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. Louise St. John is not really Mungo's wife. What happened to Mungo's wife at the beginning of the Civil War?

2. How long after the man is killed by the bolting horse does Zouga sign over the deeds to his diamond claims?

3. Who comes to visit Zouga to "inform" him of what wages he can pay, per the Digger's Committee?

4. What is the name of the Hottentot servant who actually first finds the diamonds at Colesberg kopje?

5. What does Zouga initially offer to pay the men who agree to work on his claim?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the descriptions given in the book, what are a monkey and a donkey?

2. As Zouga prepares to keep the rendezvous with the nameless man, Zouga only has his claims left to sell. Why is Zouga unwilling to sell his claims?

3. On the way to deliver the statue, Jordan entertains the notion of running away with it. Why does Jordan end up delivering the statue?

4. How are edicts from the Digger's Committee enforced?

5. As Zouga prepares to keep the rendezvous with the nameless man, why is Zouga desperate?

6. Describe what Ralph looks like after he has been to see Dr. Jameson after the fight with Zouga.

7. How does Zouga characterize Mungo St. John when he first shows up in Colesberg?

8. At Jordan's luncheon, who offends Zouga simply by being there, and why is Zouga offended?

9. What is Jordan's reaction when he learns about sex from Jan Cheroot after listening to Jan and Ralph talk?

10. While he is down in the pit, why does the Matabele warrior lean into the mud wall - the action that enables him to find the large diamond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Cecil Rhodes and King Lobengula.

a. How are the two characters similar? How are they different?

b. How is each character affected by their perceived self-worth - both positively and negatively?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Louise St. John and Aletta Ballantyne.

a. How are the two characters similar? How are they different?

b. What is revealed about each character as their back stories are explained? Discuss how the quest for the truth affects both of these characters.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the course of the novel, Ralph is involved with several different women. Compare and contrast the relationship Ralph has with Lil, Salina, and Cathy. Then, compare and contrast these women. How do these relationships influence not only Ralph, but also the other people that are in Ralph's life?

(see the answer keys)

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