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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 does Alfa compare his extraction of a German soldier from his trench in Part XII to?

2. What does Alfa put on the trunk where he keeps the severed hands to keep people out of it?

3. What alias does Alfa jokingly suggest to Mademba that Mademba could use if he became a wrestler?

4. What did the chief of Alfa's old village once propose that the village grow exclusively?

5. Who does Alfa think are the truly brave?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Alfa's father when Penndo Ba fails to return?

2. Who takes Alfa in after his mother leaves and fails to return?

3. Why does Penndo Ba leave Alfa's father?

4. What is one convention of romantic relationships in Gandiol?

5. How were Mademba and Alfa different?

6. Why does Yoro Ba want to "give" Alfa's mother to his father in marriage?

7. How does Afla think he wins over Doctor Francois at the hospital?

8. Why does Alfa think Mademoiselle Francois likes him?

9. What is the relationship between Penndo Ba and Alfa's father like?

10. What does Alfa bring to the hospital with him, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are Alfa's feelings and beliefs about the relationship between sex, losing one's virginity, and manhood? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the barriers that would realistically prevent Alfa from ever being able to be with Fary Thiam for the long-term? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How and why does Alfa feel Doctor Francois's attitude shift towards him in the aftermath of his own drawing of the severed hands? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 617 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample