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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. When does the ritual procession around town finish?

2. Who brings Camara to the train station before he leaves Kouroussa?

3. Camara's mother gives him a bottle of liquid good for what?

4. How does Camara feel about Konden Diara?

5. What makes Camara feel very smart and helpful?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Camara's hut in Kouroussa changed when he comes home for vacation?

2. Describe the friendship between Camara and his two friends, Kouyate and Check.

3. How do Camara's parents initially react to his news about going to Paris?

4. What happens when Camara and his father go to talk to Camara's mother again, hoping to convince her to let Camara finish his studies in Paris?

5. What happens in the special hut where the young men are gathered, after the actual circumcision takes place?

6. Following their encounter with Konden Diara, the young boys face the real test of circumcision. How does the ceremony in Kouroussa proceed?

7. What happens at the airport and on the plane to France?

8. Describe the character of Mamadou.

9. Who or what is Konden Diara? What does Camara's father tell him to do?

10. When Camara returns to Conakry in October, what does he find out about the Technical College, the school he attended the year before?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The meals in Camara's household follow a certain, strict tradition. Describe the procedures of a meal and the performance of all the characters involved. Compare/contrast Camara's rules and routines to those of his siblings, the apprentices and his parents. What does this scene teach you about Camara's culture? How does this differ/relate to your dining culture and etiquette?

Essay Topic 2

Camara's mother has special powers. How is this explored in chapter 5? What do people request from her? Why? How does the procedure go? How do these powers influence her character and her life? How do these powers relate to her physical protection? Provide supporting evidence about how Camara's mother differs from other people in regards to the Niger river.

Essay Topic 3

In the African culture, rituals are important. Describe the preparatory ritual of Camara's father before he does gold work. What does this ritual involve? Why is this ritual important? Compare this ritual to other rituals Camara's father performs throughout "The Dark Child."

(see the answer keys)

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