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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. How often does the narrator say he visits his parents at the start of the story?

2. What day of the week does Okenwa visit his parents?

3. What was Okenwa's father's profession before retirement?

4. What does Okenwa eat with his parents each visit?

5. Whose films did Okenwa watch obsessively when he was young?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Okenwa feel about reading compared to his parents?

2. What has changed about Okenwa's parents since retirement?

3. Under what circumstances did the houseboys that preceded Raphael stop working for Okenwa's family?

4. How does Okenwa describe his elderly parents at the start of the story?

5. What does Okenwa imagine would be different if he did have a family, as his parents hoped? Why?

6. How did Okenwa feel about going to the staff club to play badminton with his parents?

7. How did Okenwa's mother treat the houseboys?

8. What were Okenwa's parent's evenings at home like when Okenwa was young?

9. Why does Okenwa's mother think he would not remember Raphael?

10. What was Okenwa passionate about, which he did not share with his parents? Who does he meet who shared this passion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Okenwa's name is only mentioned three times in the story. Write a brief essay discussing each instance his name is used. What is the context? What do these moments have in common? What is unique about each moment?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the author of "Apollo." Who is she? What else has she written? How is "Apollo" similar or different from Adichie's previous works?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining the symbolic significance of Raphael's room in "Apollo." Even after Okenwa and Raphael begin to spend time together, Okenwa never enters Raphael's room until he is sick. Analyze the scenes Okenwa spends in Raphael's room. What is the context? How does the setting of this room develop the narrative and themes?

(see the answer keys)

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