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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. How many children did the second wife bear the deceased?

2. What is the difference between the men and women during the gathering for the deceased?

3. Why is this test feared by Senegalese women?

4. What does the narrator have to put up with regularly?

5. What does Modou complain about in his letters?

Short Essay Questions

1. What evidence of Modou's negligence to his first family is there? How does the narrator react?

2. What did Lady Mother-in-Law bring up at the mirasse and with what result?

3. What is a mirasse?

4. What is the response that many of those around Ramatoulaye have to the offer of marriage by Daouda and why?

5. Why do you think the narrator still puts up with her in-laws who irritate her and who continue to visit despite the fact that Modou is no longer living with the narrator?

6. What evidence is there that racism exists in Senegal? What is the narrator's response to the problem?

7. What does the narrator write in her diary as a young woman and remembers in this chapter?

8. What does the narrator think of those who go to school instead of learning traditional crafts?

9. Why does the narrator rush to the hospital and what does she find?

10. What is the response to the taking down of the hair by each wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ramatoulaye's message at the end of the book is one of hope. Discuss various things that our world is doing to ensure the continuation of a healthy species and earth and how that is hopeful.

In what ways does our species and planet seem to be on a course of destruction and what needs to be done to feel hopeful about the future?

Essay Topic 2

Women have little economic or political power in Senegal at the time this book is set in the 1950-1960s. Research how if at all, Senegal has changed since the time of the setting of this book in terms of the equality between men and women. Would you want to live in a culture as that of Senegal of that time? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Besides morality having changed in the United States, the differences between what is considered right and wrong vary from culture to culture. Research three cultures other than the United States whose predominant religions are different and learn about their ideas of right and wrong. (For example, use a country where Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism are the predominant religion). Discuss how these three cultures differ. How are they similar? Do you feel more comfortable with one culture over the other two? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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