View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Bessie states that the system in South Africa sees blacks as not what?

2. In Chapter 2, what does Bessie feel that the African people need, for their civilization?

3. In Chapter 2, Bessie states that the South African blacks have been stripped bare of what?

4. Why did Bessie say the South African experience so difficult for her to deal with in a creative sense?

5. In Chapter 2, what did the British go to Rhodesia to find?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 2, what does Bessie think that the spirit of the Nigra Goddess has done for the blacks in America?

2. How does Bessie describe the world that a black South African is born into?

3. What is Bessie's opinion of Botswana men?

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

5. Why according to Bessie has Botswana survived by "sheer luck and unexpected good fortune"?

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

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

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

9. In "God and The Underdog," what does Bessie feel fuels revolutions?

10. What was Bessie's life like during the two years that she lived in the refugee community in northern Botswana?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Bessie spent four months in Iowa researching a book, she was surprised to discover that America was not as she had imagined. How did she compare America to the villages of early Europe? Was it easy for her to adapt to life there? Was she able to develop her "all-important" routine there? What did it consist of? What were her thoughts on the university library? What was she surprised and excited to find there? Do you think that Bessie had pre-conceived notions about America? Do you think that her stay in Iowa gave her a broader, more accurate picture of America? How do you think she would have described it and the people after her trip?

Essay Topic 2

While Bessie is a true supporter of the black Africans, she can also be highly critical of them. Their lack of initiative in trying to better their situation is a common frustration to Bessie. List three examples that illustrate Bessie's frustration with perceived "passivity" of other black Africans. Bessie admits that she prefers to be on the sidelines when writing. Do you think that it's fair for Bessie to judge others from the sidelines instead of getting actively involved herself?

Essay Topic 3

Bessie's friend, Snowball, had a difficult time living in District Six in Capetown. What was Snowball's general demeanor? Even though he was devoutly religious, what did he believe could live together in chaotic happiness? How was Snowball treated by the landlady and most of the community? Could they see beyond the fact that he had once been a professional thief and served jail time? Was this fair to him? What kind of humbling lesson did Snowball teach Bessie? What did she learn about herself and her attitude toward religion? Why did Bessie finally give up trying to protect Snowball? Do you think that Snowball left a lasting impression on Bessie?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,015 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample