View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes John’s relationship with his own son?
(a) They are close and John’s son still lives with John.
(b) John has fully disinherited his son in order to give more to his younger children.
(c) Since John’s son got married, they rarely see each other.
(d) They are estranged because John’s son is friends with criminals.

2. Which character is angriest that Absalom has disappeared?
(a) Kumalo.
(b) The girl.
(c) The reformatory worker.
(d) Msimangu.

3. How many “husbands” did Absalom’s girl have before Absalom?
(a) Eight.
(b) Two.
(c) Six.
(d) Four.

4. How many accomplices did Absalom have in the murder?
(a) Two.
(b) One.
(c) Four.
(d) Three.

5. What neighborhood of the city does Msimangu live in?
(a) Sophiatown.
(b) Claremont.
(c) Orlando.
(d) Alexandra.

6. Who does the letter at the beginning of the novel claim is sick?
(a) Kumalo’s brother.
(b) Kumalo’s son.
(c) Kumalo’s nephew.
(d) Kumalo’s sister.

7. What is the name of the taxi driver who is friends with Absalom?
(a) Matthew.
(b) Dubula.
(c) Hlabeni.
(d) Pafuri.

8. What is the name of the lawyer who agrees to represent Absalom?
(a) Mr. Carmichael.
(b) Mr. Johannes.
(c) Mr. Smith.
(d) Mr. Christie.

9. What is the FIRST place Kumalo and Msimangu visit to track down Absalom?
(a) They visit the Shanty Town in Orlando.
(b) They visit Mrs. Ndlela’s house.
(c) They visit a factory where Absalom worked.
(d) They visit a reformatory.

10. When Kumalo et al. visit Absalom’s girl, how long has it been since she last saw Absalom?
(a) 1 month.
(b) 4 days.
(c) 2 weeks.
(d) 1 week.

11. Why does Kumalo feel betrayed by his brother John?
(a) Because John renounces any familial bond with Stephen or Absalom.
(b) Because John is willing to hire a lawyer to lie about his own son’s involvement in the murder.
(c) Because John is secretly gleeful that a white man is dead.
(d) Because John is prepared to act as an alibi to get his own son off the hook.

12. How do Kumalo and Msimangu travel to Alexandra?
(a) They walk eleven miles.
(b) They take a taxi.
(c) They take a bus.
(d) They accept a ride from a white man.

13. What is the name of the village where Kumalo lives?
(a) Ndotsheni.
(b) Umzimkulu.
(c) Carisbrooke.
(d) Sophiatown.

14. How does Absalom react to Kumalo’s news that he will be married?
(a) He is happy to hear it.
(b) He is displeased to hear it.
(c) He begs his father to spare the girl the humiliation of marrying a condemned man.
(d) He is so despondent nothing can affect his mood.

15. Who does Stephen Kumalo receive a letter from in the opening pages of the novel?
(a) Absalom.
(b) Msimangu.
(c) John.
(d) Gertrude.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who apologizes to Kumalo for behaving badly towards him and refusing to help him get a lawyer for Absalom?

2. Which of the following is NOT something the white reformatory worker tells Kumalo about Absalom’s recent experiences?

3. What is John Kumalo’s profession?

4. Why did Kumalo’s sister originally go to the city?

5. What weapon did Absalom use to kill Arthur Jarvis?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 582 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample