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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. How does Maureen know July is lying about what his family says upon their first meeting?

2. What makes the children happy, as nothing can?

3. What does Bam promise Victor, if he stays home from hunting?

4. Why does Maureen avoid reading the only book she has?

5. What is happening politically, economically, and socially in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to the blacks under the Small’s employ, including July?

2. Describe the situation with the vehicle in Section 3.

3. What does Victor’s anger at the “stealing” of “their” water show?

4. Explain what Maureen discovers as she notices various gadgets being used around the village.

5. Describe the photograph of young Maureen and her housekeeper Lydia, and why it is important.

6. Why does July object to Maureen’s use of his wife’s cough syrup?

7. What does Maureen mean when she says “death is a purchase” (pg 65)?

8. What does July learn to do in Section 4, and who teaches him?

9. Describe what Bam and July are able to make for the village.

10. Explain Martha and July's mother's reaction to meeting Maureen in Section 2.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Apartheid is another primary topic in the novel, as the blacks were continuously kept down by the white minority in power. Bam and Maureen claimed to fight against this concept. Do you think they really did? Why or why not? How do their actions in the novel show they enjoyed their privileged state more than they openly admitted? How did July feel about this?

Essay Topic 2

In detail, explain what happened to the relationship between Bam and Maureen throughout the novel. Why did they both end up not only not caring for one another by the end of the novel, but not even understanding or even knowing one another? What happened to cause their separation?

Essay Topic 3

July’s mother is a powerful female figure in his life. At the same time, however, she is being forced to do as July says. How does her role as a woman in the novel differ from the role of Maureen as a woman? Both are mothers and strong women. How do their differences show the differences in cultures, and how do their similarities show similarity in culture?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 891 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample