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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why should soldiers not smoke in a war, according to Alfa?
(a) It uses too much lighter fluid.
(b) It helps the enemy see where the soldiers are.
(c) It is bad for morale.
(d) It is bad for their health.

2. What does the Fula nomads' proverb say, according to Alfa?
(a) A penny saved is a penny earned.
(b) Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
(c) At dawn you can already know if the day will be good or bad.
(d) Sometimes you bite the tiger, sometimes the tiger bites you.

3. What does Alfa suspect about Seck's translation of Captain Armand's directions to Alfa?
(a) Seck does not really speak Alfa's language very well.
(b) Seck is translating word for word.
(c) Seck does not really speak the Captain's langauge very well.
(d) Seck is leaving out some things Captain Armand is saying.

4. What does Alfa put on the trunk where he keeps the severed hands to keep people out of it?
(a) A knife.
(b) A talisman.
(c) A smear of tar.
(d) A totem.

5. Who is the doctor treating Alfa at the Rear?
(a) Doctor Henri.
(b) Doctor Francois.
(c) Doctor Detrande.
(d) Doctor Armand.

6. What does Alfa use to create the entity he hopes will warn people off his hiding place for the hands?
(a) A sharpened rat bone.
(b) A steel blade.
(c) A dye made from flowers.
(d) Dirt.

7. When do the white soldiers suddenly decide to stop obeying Captain Armand?
(a) In the spring, around Easter.
(b) Between Alfa's fifth and sixth hand.
(c) In the heat of summer.
(d) In the depth of winter.

8. What do the soldiers seem to think about Jean-Baptiste and the hand he stole?
(a) The hand had brought him good luck.
(b) The hand had brought him bad luck.
(c) No one believed he had actually stolen the hand.
(d) The hand seemed to bring Jean-Baptiste magical powers, and invulnerability.

9. What does Alfa think Captain Armand wants to do with him in Chapter XIII?
(a) Send him back to Africa.
(b) Trick him into confessing that he is a sorcerer.
(c) Lock him up.
(d) Promote him.

10. Who is Mademba's father?
(a) Sire Diop.
(b) Davi Diop.
(c) Marshall Diop.
(d) Harvre Diop.

11. In Chapter XVII, who does Alfa briefly fantasize about visiting revenge on for what happened to his mother?
(a) The Fistus.
(b) The Hustis.
(c) The Moors.
(d) The Fulus.

12. What does Alfa think of Captain Armand's treatment of the traitorous soldiers?
(a) He has never seen anything so ugly.
(b) He thinks it is just like what his father would have done in a similar situation.
(c) He thinks it is just.
(d) He thinks he can put it right if he uses his own magic.

13. Why did people in Gandiol avoid walking at night near the river?
(a) It was too cold by the water.
(b) For fear of snakes.
(c) For fear of alligators.
(d) For fear of the goddess Mame Coumba Bang.

14. Who is Alfa's maternal grandfather?
(a) Farmo Fa.
(b) Levo Ta.
(c) Yoro Ba.
(d) Hero Ma.

15. What does Alfa think Fary Thiam started doing before he did?
(a) Building houses.
(b) Having sex.
(c) Reading.
(d) Thinking for herself.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Alfa's father once tell him about laughter?

2. Why does Alfa's mother set off away from Gandiol?

3. What is the doctor's personality like?

4. Who does Alfa think are the truly brave?

5. How does Alfa think he can tell that the woman at the hospital in the Rear is attracted to him?

(see the answer keys)

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