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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 is hard for Thula to adjust to in America?

2. What does Sahel come to think of as Thula's blanket in Part III?

3. What did the Pexton representatives say when asked how long it would take for them to get all the oil out of the ground in Kosawa?

4. What is Thula shocked to learn about in America?

5. What do the boys of the village do during the manhood passage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the people from the Restoration Movement promise Sahel specifically?

2. Who did people tell Yaya Thula was a replica of?

3. What did Pexton tell the Kosawans about how long it would take for them to extract oil when they first arrived in the village?

4. Why do Thula and Austin separate?

5. What shocking revelation does Yaya learn about Big Papa in Part IV?

6. Why was Kosawa spared when white people came to snatch Black people for slaves, according to Yaya?

7. In Part IV, what does the Sweet One tell Sahel and Yaya about Thula's actions in America?

8. How does Sahel feel about taking care of Yaya?

9. What is Yaya's one real regret about her marriage?

10. How does Thula survive the massacre in Part III?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do Thula's childhood relationships with both her father, Malabo, and with Big Papa influence her actions as an adult? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What does traditional Kosawan food mean to the villagers, especially when they experience food from other parts of their country and, in Thula's case, in America? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Although Mbue explores dark and serious themes in this novel, she also employs humor at different points. Write an essay analyzing Mbue's use of humor in this novel, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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