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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 the narrator's demeanor change as she finally enters Tsau?

2. What does the narrator use to keep predators away at night in the desert?

3. Who is Grace with when the narrator bumps into her in town?

4. What does Nelson Denoon suggest African's should harness the power of?

5. How does the narrator know of Nelson Denoon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the reader learn about the narrator in Chapter 1? What characteristics does she display?

2. What does Nelson Denoon believe is "Solar Democracy"?

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

4. Nelson Denoon tells the narrator at the squatters settlement that there is no place for her on his project. However, she is packing anyway. Why? What does this say about her character?

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

6. Why does the narrator position herself as cultural tour guide while in Gaborone?

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. The narrator begins to have very strange experiences in the desert. What are they, and how does she overcome it?

9. Who is "Z" and what relationship does the narrator share with him?

10. How does the narrator prepare to leave for Tsau? How does she plan to travel? What risks is she taking?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Norman Rush is a male author writing from a female point of view. How do you think this impacts the telling of the story? Is this approach unusual in literature? Why or why not? How do you think the perspective would have changed if it had been written by a woman? Be sure to explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Nelson essentially turns his invitation to the narrator to come live with him into a PR event. Based on the way Nelson has handled his relationship with the narrator to this point and how he feels about village politics, why did he ask her in this way? What is the author demonstrating about Nelson's personality?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the exchange between Dineo and the narrator that ends in the bathhouse. What message is Dineo trying to send the narrator through her conversation and her actions?

(see the answer keys)

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