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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. Why do Bam and Maureen have difficulty discussing the circumstances in Section 9?

2. What has the government promised to do to help the local chiefs?

3. What does the chief want Bam to do to help him?

4. What are the chief’s final words to the Smalls in Section 8?

5. What does Bam wonder about, in terms of what July will do if the Smalls are evicted?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Martha wonder most about the white woman, when she lived in town with July?

2. What is July’s feeling about Maureen working in the fields, and why?

3. What is missing when the Smalls arrive back at the hut in Section 9, and what does this likely mean for the family?

4. Describe Maureen’s point about the smell of her family.

5. In Section 9, what does Martha dream for the future, and how does this differ from July’s dreams?

6. Why do you think Maureen runs for the helicopter at the end of the novel, leaving her family behind?

7. Explain how Maureen feels about her husband after living in the village for a time.

8. Explain why Maureen drowns the kittens and what this implies about her?

9. Why does Maureen give a final belittling speech to July, and what does she say?

10. Explain Maureen’s feelings about her life, prior to the riots, as reflected upon in Section 9.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Maureen and Bam claim to be against the life of privileged whites, their children’s behaviors betray this concept. Choose one scene in which the behavior of the children leads one to believe they are, indeed, over privileged, and that they don’t share their parents’ views of equality for blacks.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the character of Maureen at the beginning of the novel, and at the end of the novel. What are similarities? What are differences? How has she changed through the novel, and what caused her to change?

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)

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