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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. Which is NOT one of the names given to the competition groups?

2. Who proposes Mungo St. John for membership into the Kimberley Club?

3. Who ends up serving lunch to Cecil Rhodes?

4. How far is it from Good Hope to the diamond fields that Zouga and his family journey to?

5. What rank does Zouga Ballantyne hold?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what Ralph looks like after he has been to see Dr. Jameson after the fight with Zouga.

2. As Zouga prepares to keep the rendezvous with the nameless man, why is Zouga desperate?

3. After Mungo has been released from prison in Cape Town, Zouga loses contact with Mungo. How do they finally make contact with each other again?

4. Why does Zouga's wife insist on accompanying him to Colesberg as the story begins?

5. How does the leader of the tribal warriors respond when Zouga asks them why they are seeking their "treasure"?

6. What was Mungo St. John's reaction when the British navy tried to board his ship?

7. Describe what married life was like for Zouga's wife.

8. Describe the reaction of Zouga's wife when she first arrives in Africa.

9. How does Zouga react when the nameless man offers him an equal partnership in his scheme to gain profits by salting Zouga's claim?

10. When Jordan accepts the job that is offered to him when he delivers the statue to its new owner, what is Jordan's first responsibility at his new job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the story, there are several attempted characters that either die or are killed.

a. Identify three characters that do not survive until the end of the novel. Describe each character and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

b. Compare and contrast the characters that do not survive. What does the author have to gain by killing these characters off? What, if anything, does the author lose?

c. How would the story have changed if one or more of your identified characters had survived?

Essay Topic 2

Zouga Ballantyne seems to be a man who is supremely confident in his ability to come out on top. Identify at least three instances from the story that highlight his confidence. How is Zouga helped by his confidence? How is Zouga hurt by his confidence? Provide examples of each.

Essay Topic 3

One of the main themes in this novel involves greed.

a. Identify three characters that are motivated by greed to further their interests.

b. How does greed affect these characters, their decisions, and their actions?

c. What is the outcome for these characters? Were they successful in their endeavors, or would they have been more successful if they had not been so greedy? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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