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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 used to be Odili's father's profession?

2. How long is Nwege's speech in Chapter 1?

3. Why does Chief Nanga seek a second wife?

4. What, in Chief Nanga's days as a scoutmaster, is considered the "very acme of sophistication"?

5. From what country do Jean and John come?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Odili's perception of Chief Nanga's concerns?

2. Why does Chief Nanga scorn his old nickname, "M.A. Minus Opportunity"?

3. In what way does Jean primarily reveal her insensitivity towards Nigeria and Nigerians?

4. What attitudes do the foreigners at the dinner conversation seem to have toward Africa, and how do they demonstrate such?

5. How do Odili and Elsie meet?

6. Why is Odili concerned when Chief Nanga voices his intention to go to the hospital with him?

7. What personal goal does Odili not considering asking for help in achieving, as stated in Chapter 2?

8. What is unusual about Mrs. Akilo and Chief Nanga's affair?

9. On what does Odili focus during Chief Nanga's speech in Chapter 6?

10. Why is Odili's father hated?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the character of Maxwell Kulamo. How does Odili portray him? Is Odili's portrayal of Maxwell fair or biased? What do Maxwell's actions reveal about his person? In what ways is Maxwell significant to the story?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the resolution of the story. Does it seem just for a military coup to overthrow the government? What are the motives of the military? What does this say about justice and politics? How is the future of Nigeria portrayed in "A Man of the People"?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 9, Timothy, the Christian carpenter, says that "Josiah has taken away enough for the owner to notice." Examine the relevance of this statement to the story. How is it shown to be true in Anata? Is it true in the country as a whole? Why is it noticed differently in a small village than in the whole country? Does this imply anything about large-scale democracy, and if so, what?

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