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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 was the punishment for returning to school late in Chapter 23?

2. What Billy Graham movie was screened at the school?

3. In what year does Chapter 18 begin?

4. What did Jonyo Kenyatta call Kenya?

5. What did Ngũgĩ think might help quiet his spiritual doubts?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are Ngũgĩ, Wanjai and Leonard late getting back from Nairobi Saturday?

2. What are the big changes Ngũgĩ describes at the beginning of Chapter 32?

3. Describe Ngũgĩ’s feelings about volunteering at Sunday School and the words or phrases he uses to express these feelings?

4. What did Ngũgĩ learn happened to his mother while he was at school?

5. What was the root of the fear that “haunted” the first semester of Ngũgĩ’s second year at Alliance?

6. What does Ngũgĩ say he learned about the power of the pawn through Chess?

7. In what ways did Edward Carey Francis change the education model of Alliance?

8. How did Ngũgĩ “pass” the screening in Limuru?

9. Why does Ngũgĩ refer to Alliance as a sanctuary?

10. Describe Ngũgĩ’s friendship with Kenneth Mbgũa.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a short essay on the teacher, Joseph Kariuki and his significance to the story. Why was he an important figure at Alliance? What made him different?

Essay Topic 2

Find examples of metaphor in In the House of the Interpreter and analyze their significance and effectiveness.

Essay Topic 3

David Martin’s ability to speak to Ngũgĩ and have him accept Jesus is an example of a speaker able to convince its audience. What do you think it takes to be an effective speaker and to make an effective argument? Why do you think Martin’s words touched Ngũgĩ at that time in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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