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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 is a "bogadi," in African culture?

2. In 1968, where was Bessie told that South African literature wasn't very popular?

3. In Chapter 2, whose religious ideas hold great appeal for Bessie?

4. In "African religions," Bessie states that African religion doesn't receive value because they don't have what?

5. In "Notes on novels," how is pre-colonial invasion South Africa described?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Bessie's first experience of racism in a black form?

2. In "African Religions," what does Bessie state is at the root of religion in Africa?

3. In Chapter 2, why is the friendship between Bessie and the American woman painful?

4. Why was Bessie able to write in Botswana rather than South Africa?

5. In "Makeba Music," how does Bessie describe the musician, Makeba?

6. In the conclusion of Chapter 2, how does Bessie summarize her life experiences?

7. In "African Religions," what, does Bessie state is the main difference between Asian and African religious ideals?

8. Why does Bessie think of the American woman as some sort of goddess?

9. In "A Note on Rain Clouds," what does Bessie state is thwarting young, idealistic, black men and their ideals?

10. In what ways did emancipation slowly make it's way to Botswana?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Conflict is the main theme of "A Woman Alone". Do you think that there was just as much internal conflict in the book as external? Do you believe that external conflicts are a direct result of individual internal conflicts? Explain Bessie's internal conflict regarding her avoidance of all things revolutionary and liberatory. Was she always proud of this? Did it sometimes create problems with others? Do you think that Bessie avoided these issues because she didn't think that they were effective or because she knew that she couldn't deal with them mentally?

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

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?

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