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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. In 1965, what did Bessie write that the people of South Africa need to find in order to live together?

2. What does Bessie enjoy that she feels South Africa denied her?

3. What additional information did the social worker tell Bessie?

4. How does Bessie describe the people from the place that the American woman hails from?

5. Bessie described her friend, Snowball, as perfectly black except for his what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Bessie given up for adoption?

2. Why is there no rage and oppression in Botswana?

3. How does Bessie describe the Botswana flag to students during the independence celebration?

4. In "The Old Woman," what is Bessie referring to when she says "Gods walk around Africa barefoot with nothing"?

5. In 1966, what changes were made regarding refugees in Botswana?

6. What are Bessie's beliefs about racists?

7. In "The Woman From America," what was the biggest threat that this woman and her husband posed to the village?

8. How was African Independence celebrated in Botswana?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After reading "A Woman Alone," what are your views on oppression? How does it begin? What is it based on? Does it spiral out of control or is it a deliberate action? How do events in South Africa since he 1990s seem compared to the hopes of the previously oppressed people?

Essay Topic 2

At the independence celebration in Botswana a student relays a story to the group. He says that when he shouted to burn the British flag, he was told that he was embarrassing everyone, especially the white people present. Why would anyone in Botswana care what the white people thought? Is Botswana held to a different standard because it's never been occupied? Do you think that some people think that they should appreciate the treatment that they've been given by the British? Do you agree? Do you think that the student's frustration stems from a perceived lack of understanding from the Botswana villagers of his passion for liberation? Does he look at blacks as one unified group while they are still looking at the situation from a Botswana point of view only?

Essay Topic 3

In "Preface to witchcraft," Bessie states that while living in South Africa she lived with a shattering sense of anxiety. Do you think that some anxiety remained even after her move to Botswana? Do you feel a sense of this in her writings? Is the format of "A Woman Alone" a reflection of an anxious person? Does the constant "skipping around" from one to piece to another, one subject to another, speak of an anxious brain? Do you perceive a lack of finishing one thing before starting another? Or, do you think the format is intentional and simply reflects Bessie's individual style?

(see the answer keys)

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