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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. Where is the narrator from originally?

2. What is a rondavel?

3. How does the narrator feel about Nelson Doonen's holier-than-thou political attitudes?

4. What is Nelson Denoon doing when the narrator and Grace find him at the party?

5. Where does the narrator believe Nelson has gone while he is on retreat?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the narrator's reaction to meeting Nelson Denoon. How is he different from her expectations?

2. Nelson leaves Tsau on retreat for four days. Why doesn't he tell the narrator why or where he is going? How does the narrator react?

3. Why does the narrator have such difficulty finding the place where Nelson Denoon is rumored to be staying?

4. The narrator has conflicting feelings about Nelson Denoon after talking to him further in the squatter settlement. What are they?

5. What does the narrator notice as she approaches Tsau? What memories does it evoke?

6. Grace Denoon and the narrator have lunch together after the narrator bumps into Grace while shopping for supplies. What do they discuss? What does this conversation represent?

7. There are disagreements as to whether or not Nelson and the narrator should be a couple. Describe the feelings on this subject in the village.

8. What drives the narrator to contact Nelson Denoon?

9. What feelings does the narrator have as a result of visiting Victoria Falls with Giles? Why?

10. What does the narrator pretend to be when she enters Tsau? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator faces several perils in the desert on her way to Tsau. What are they? How does the way the narrator handle those challenges speak to her character and the way she is evolving in the story? Include the way the narrator feels about her journey and her accomplishments in your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The narrator in this story is anonymous. Why does the author approach the story this way? How does it impact the reader's view of the story? Would it change if we knew more about the narrator, like her name? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe what happened to Nelson in the desert. What kind of transformation has he experienced? Is this common among survivors? What does his transformation mean for his future with the narrator and the future of Tsau?

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