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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. Why does the Belgium not eat the food in the lycee dining room?

2. Who is Salim's childhood friend who is going to England to study?

3. What request does Ferdinand make of Salim?

4. What is the habit of Mahesh that always seems to fail?

5. What begins happening to the town as the area becomes more peaceful?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Salim and his friend, Indar, escape the area where their families live?

2. Why does Ferdinand ask the question about African religion?

3. What is everyone's perception of Raymond?

4. What does Salim think about the slaves on the east coast of Africa?

5. Describe Zabeth's son.

6. Describe Salim's family.

7. What is Salim's assessment of Father Huismans?

8. Explain why Zabeth brings Ferdinand to see Salim.

9. How do Salim and Metty begin to react with Ferdinand?

10. What is the situation at the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

All through the novel there are changes in people as events unfold. Write an essay about how people and places change with the passing of time. Use either examples from the novel or personal examples of people you have known for a long time and places you have known and how they have changed after a long period of being apart.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper about African religion. Use Zabeth as an example and discuss the religious significance of the carved wooden masks. Also refer to Father Huismans' interest in the religious artifacts he collects and why he thinks they are historically significant.

Essay Topic 3

Using examples of ethnic food mentioned in the novel, write an essay about how different food is important to different people. Include foods that you would miss if you suddenly were denied access to them. Also discuss to what extent you would try different foods if you visit another country.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 690 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample