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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 happened to Snowball?

2. In "Sketches," how does Bessie describe Botswana?

3. Who raised Bessie?

4. What was the trend in Atteridgeville in 1964?

5. In "Village people," Bessie states that poverty in Africa is like a second skin and worn with what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Bessie's beliefs about racists?

2. What facts about her parentage were brutally told to Bessie by the magistrate and the missionary?

3. What did Bessie think of the mission orphanage that she was sent to at age 13?

4. Why is Bessie so drawn to the American woman in "Woman from America"?

5. What lasting effect did the treatment by the missionaries have on Bessie?

6. In "Village People," how does Bessie describe the black African people?

7. Why did Bessie keep all the notes that the American woman gave her?

8. In "preface to Witchcraft," why is Bessie angry with South Africa?

9. How was African Independence celebrated in Botswana?

10. What more compassionate details concerning her mother did Bessie learn over time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bessie's views of the white man were formed at an early age. List two experiences in Bessie's early life that you think had a profound effect on her opinion of the white man? List the experiences and Bessie's response to them. Later in life, Bessie was able to see some good in the white man and her hatred lessened. Explain the person and the circumstances surrounding this.

Essay Topic 2

Bessie describes the lonely life of South African refugees as she experienced. Do you that the refugees would say that it's a small price to pay for freedom? What was Botswana's reaction to refugees after independence? How did this reflect their view of refugees? Do you think that refugees are ever truly "free" of the country that they have fled? Are they always associated with it in the new country? Is this true today of America and refugees from the Muslim countries? What are the stereotypes of these refugees? Do you think that refugees should be forced to assimilate totally into their adoptive country, even forsaking previous culture, language, and religion?

Essay Topic 3

In "An unspeakable crime", Bessie expresses her disdain of the Coloured Affairs Department. What are they doing in Port Elizabeth and Capetown that she disagrees with? Describe the actions of the coloureds, whom she feels are accessories to the crime. Are they ashamed of their actions? Should they be? Do you think that they truly don't know their own minds and think that the Coloured Affairs Department knows what's best for their children? Or, do they see the situation for what it is and go along with it because it's the only way to survive?

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