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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 Esi say to Opokuya that makes Opokuya wonder what's wrong with Esi?

2. What happens soon after Ali is born?

3. Where does Ali earn a Master's degree?

4. Whose company does Ali enjoy?

5. How does Ali feel about his father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do both families insist happen before Ali leave for England?

2. Why is it important that Esi find a sympathetic ear in Opokuya?

3. How does Fusena feel when she becomes pregnant with her second child?

4. Why is Esi hesitant to tell Opokuya what Esi is going through?

5. How does Fusena end up in England with Ali?

6. Who is Ali's father?

7. What happens that pushes Esi over the edge and makes her decide to leave Oko?

8. Who is Opokuya and what is her relationship to Esi?

9. How does Oko feel about the end of his marriage a year or so later?

10. What are each person's reasons for wanting the car this particular morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When the older women of Ali's family are tasked with talking to Fusena, they feel bad. There is an understanding among the women that it is a man's world and a woman can only survive if she knows how to live as a woman in it. Yet, they are shocked by how little has changed for their daughters despite receiving educations.

1. Research the educational system of Ghana and discuss what you find including answering the following questions: a. Is access to education equal between males and females? Do males with the same education have better jobs or pay than females? What is the average educational level for men? Women? Does education seem to make a difference for women?

2. Research the educational systems in the United States and compare and contrast it with the Ghanaian educational system. How has the availability or lack of educational opportunities helped or hurt a country's general living conditions? In your opinion, what does the United States need to do to improve their educational system? What does Ghana need to do to improve their educational system?

3. Research the educational systems in several countries around the world; choose at least one country considered to be "third world," and one labeled "Western world" (other than the United States and Ghana). Compare and contrast their educational systems. How has the availability or lack of educational opportunities helped or hurt a country's general living conditions? In your opinion, what does the United States need to do to improve their educational system?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss one of the following in relation to Changes: A Love Story:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Esi and Opokuya. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Is either woman's beliefs more worthy than the other? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Oko and Ali. How are they similar? How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Certainly Changes: A Love Story deals with the subject of gender. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the Ghanaian cultural definitions of gender during the time of Changes: A Love Story and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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