View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the chief do that surprises the Smalls?

2. Where is all of July’s money?

3. What does Bam do that Maureen realizes is a move of defeat?

4. What greeting does Daniel give the man at the gathering place?

5. At the end of the book, what does Maureen hear that is different than usual sounds?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is July’s mother’s primary objection to the white people?

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

3. Describe the birth of animals in the Smalls’ hut, and how that relates to the accusation of theft.

4. Describe the gumba-gumba, and the resulting party atmosphere.

5. Describe the scene where Bam lays face first in the bed. What happened, and what does this signify?

6. Explain how July sees his chief.

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

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

9. What does Bam try to explain about why the chief shouldn’t kill his own people?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story, Martha’s character dreams of keeping her husband near, while her husband dreams of returning to life in the city. What do you think explains these differences, and what do you think this means for the couple? What do you think July will do, regardless of the outcome of the riots? What will Martha do, and why?

Essay Topic 2

The children in the novel regress throughout the book, and by the end, they are having difficulty even reading. Describe at least three moments in the book where one of the children “loses” their privileged behaviors and instead substitutes behaviors they are learning from the village children. What does this indicate about their ability to adapt, as opposed to their parents’ ability?

Essay Topic 3

The gun is a symbolic object in the novel. What does it symbolize to Bam and Maureen? To the villagers? To July? To Daniel? To the chief? In the end what happens to it, and how does this affect Bam? How does it affect Maureen?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 975 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample