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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 long is the walk from Kouroussa to Tindican when Camara does it with his youngest uncle?

2. Who do the children occasionally complain to when being taken advantage of?

3. What does Camara's friend Kouyate look like?

4. What is the name of the river that flows nearby Camara's village?

5. Why do the reapers not compete with each other?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Camara's father tell Camara the story about the special snake? What else does he suggest to Camara about the snake?

2. What is Camara thinking while he is in the rice fields with all the reapers?

3. What happens in Tindican during the rice season in December?

4. Describe the initial relationship between Camara and Fanta?

5. How do Camara's mother's special powers manifest themselves as physical protection?

6. Describe the character of Camara's father.

7. Camara's mother has special powers. How is that manifested in chapter 5? What is her association to a horse?

8. What does the second half of the reapers' days look like?

9. Describe Camara's school clothes when he is a child. How does Camara feel about these clothes while in Tindican?

10. While he was growing up, what were the rules during meals in Camara's parents' household?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Camara get treated by his grandmother when he visits her in Tindican? Describe her affection and routines towards Camara. How does Camara react to this treatment? What does his grandmother's behavior tell you about their relationship? Compare/contrast Camara's grandmother's behavior towards him throughout the book. Does it change? How does it evolve?

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 3, Camara describes his grandmother's hut. How does this hut compare/contrast to his mother's hut? What picture does the author bring to mind about the living quarters of people in Guinea? Describe the general idea you get about the habitation of Camara's family and compare it to your own environment.

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 7 Konden Diara is introduced. What or who is Konden Diara? What does he represent? Relate Konden Diara to the rite of passage. Describe his presence in detail, using supporting evidence from chapter 7. How does he influence the boys' feelings? What do they know about him? Does he show up during the ritual? How? When? What is the secret behind him?

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