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

2. What is the first thing Mademba draws for the doctor?

3. What does Alfa think about the owner of the fourth hand that he kills?

4. What does Alfa say Mademba Diop looked like?

5. What does Alfa say on the subjects of blame and God in Chapter XII?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the soldiers in Alfa's unit decide to disobey Captain Armand in Part III?

2. What is the first thing Alfa draws for the doctor?

3. How were Mademba and Alfa different?

4. Why does Captain Armand tell Alfa he looked the other way at first when Alfa brought the severed hands back?

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

6. What does Alfa think the war has done to him, as he explains in Part III?

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

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

9. What does Alfa do to make sure no one finds his severed hands?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Why does Alfa feel that he owes his best friend Mademba deeply, and in the end of the novel, how does Alfa seem to fulfill what he sees as his debt or obligation to the deceased Mademba? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Alfa's father change after the disappearance of Alfa's mother? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 690 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample