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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 which grade in school do the nuns arrive to give students general examinations?

2. Which of the following is NOT something Lucia is accused of while staying at the homestead?

3. What does Nyasha feel that the family is turning Babamukuru into?

4. Which of the following best describes Tambu's attitude as she returns to the homestead?

5. How long had Lucia been homeless before coming to stay at the homestead?

Short Essay Questions

1. During the family meeting, what does Lucia say about Jeremiah and his relationship with Ma'Shingayi?

2. What is the process of being "screened out" at school and why does Nyasha fear it?

3. What does Nyasha find most strange about the white people who live at the mission?

4. How does Lucia rouse Ma'Shingayi from her depression?

5. How does Tambu feel about her parents' impending wedding ceremony?

6. How does Ma'Shingayi feel about Tambu winning the scholarship?

7. How does Babamukuru propose to deal with the evil that has been following his family?

8. How does Maiguru react to the vicious fight that breaks out between Babamukuru and Nyasha after the dance?

9. How does Tambu feel about the village latrine?

10. Who is Nyaradzo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of the novel, Babamukuru announces that Jeremiah and Mainini will have a church wedding. First, explain why this wedding was so important to Babamukuru that he would offer to pay for the whole thing. What traditional customs does this wedding represent? Then explain Tambu's reaction to the forced marriage. How does this wedding change her views of her family?

Essay Topic 2

Although many of the characters in the novel are black Africans, there are a few scenes in which the black characters interact with white characters. First, give examples of two scenes in which blacks and whites interact. Then describe the speech patterns of the white characters and compare/contrast that speech to the black characters. Based on their verbal interactions, how do the white characters regard the black characters?

Essay Topic 3

Tambu's family runs on a strict hierarchy. First, explain the hierarchy within Tambu's extended family -- who is on top? Who is on the bottom? Then explain how the hierarchy is expressed during the opening scenes in the novel, when Babamukuru first returns to the village. Then compare/contrast that to the way the hierarchy is expressed when Tambu returns to the village for the Christmas holidays. What has changed? What has stayed the same?

(see the answer keys)

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