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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 the former career of Professor Okong, the Commissioner for Home Affairs?

2. Which best describes the Commissioners' attitude toward the President as shown throughout Chapter 1?

3. How does Mad Medico address the President?

4. Which best describes Sam as a young student?

5. On what pretext does a police constable detain Ikem as he leaves the meeting at the end of Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the Abazon leaders fail to support the President's bid to become dictator-for-life, and what does the President do in response to their lack of support?

2. What does Ikem mean when he says it is a writer's job to give headaches and not prescriptions? Do you agree with this statement?

3. Describe the confrontation between Ikem and the taxi driver in Chapter 3. What does it reveal about Ikem's character?

4. Explain the story of the leopard and the tortoise. Why does the Abazon elder tell this story?

5. Why does Agatha refuse to serve Elewa? What does the incident suggest about class differences in their society?

6. Explain the argument between Ikem and Chris at the beginning of Chapter 3. Who has more integrity, Ikem or Chris, and what does their argument reveal about the state of the free press in Kangan?

7. What meaning does Chris find in the inscription "What a man commits," which is painted on the back of the bus?

8. Why is Mad Medico deported?

9. Explain the purpose of Mad Medico's graffiti.

10. Why must Chris leave the city?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the idea of storytelling as a powerful tool.

1) Why, according to the Abazon elder, is the story of the battle more important than the battle itself?

2) Why, according to Ikem, are storytellers the enemies of tyrants?

3) How do Ikem's stories threaten the President? What change is he able to effect through them?

Essay Topic 2

Beatrice and Elewa are the two major female characters in Anthills of the Savannah.

1) Compare and contrast Beatrice and Elewa. How are they similar and different?

2) Is one of the women stronger than the other, or do they both have unique strengths?

3) Both women argue with Ikem over his treatment of women. Describe their arguments with Ikem. Which woman is better able to influence him?

4) How do these two women from very different backgrounds grow to become close friends?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of religion in Anthills of the Savannah.

1) Which religions are represented in the novel?

2) Compare and contrast the attitudes of Beatrice and Agatha toward their religions.

3) Nigeria is a country with three main religions: Christianity, Islam, and traditional animism. How is this religious diversity represented in the novel, particularly in the naming ceremony in Chapter 18?

(see the answer keys)

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