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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. What does Nhamo try to imitate while learning to swim?

2. How does Nhamo feel when she is in the boat on her first day?

3. Why is Nhamo so afraid when she dreams about Crocodile Guts?

4. What does the family not do while eating dinner?

5. Why does Ruva stop eating?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of things occupy Nhamo's time when she is first settling on the island?

2. What does Grandmother reveal about Nhamo's father at the trading post?

3. How does Grandmother want Nhamo to escape?

4. What did Nhamo's grandmother do when her daughter was eaten by a leopard, and why is this so touching to Nhamo?

5. What does Nhamo do for Masvita when she can't sleep?

6. What does Nhamo dream about after she sees the electric light?

7. What happens when Nhamo is stung while working on her boat?

8. How does Nhamo figure out a better way to hollow out her boat?

9. What does Nhamo do to calm her fears while she waits for the hippos to leave?

10. What story does Nhamo's grandmother tell her at the beginning of the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maturity is a theme presented in a number of places in this plot and is manifested in a number of different ways. Choose a few of these instances and compare and contrast them. How are they different in their manifestations of this sensitive theme?

Essay Topic 2

Much of this plot follows the relationship between Nhamo and her mother. How does this relationship change over the course of the plot, and what causes these changes?

Essay Topic 3

Fear is a major motivating factor for a number of characters in this book. Which characters are most affected by this, and what are some of the different ways this fear is manifested?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 894 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample