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 author reveal about a special aspect of Nigerian culture, when the two couples go out on a date?

2. When Obi arrives home, what descriptions does the author give of his parents' rooms?

3. When Obi goes to visit Clara in hospital, what comments by the doctor foreshadow what will happen between Clara and Obi?

4. What is Obi's initial response when his father forbids him to marry Clara?

5. What foreshadows trouble for Obi when evening prayers are said on the first day of his visit home?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Obi goes to Clara's after his visit home, how does the relationship between them take a turn for the worse?

2. When Obi visits home, how does the issue of Clara being osu affect Obi's discussions with his father?

3. What incident involving Mr. Mark at Obi's office foreshadows Obi's eventual involvement with bribes over scholarships?

4. What mixed reactions does Obi display in response to his mother's death?

5. After Obi returns from his visit home, how does Christopher react to Obi's news about the response of his parents to his plan to marry Clara?

6. After Obi visits Clara in hospital and she turns her face to the wall, how do events escalate development towards Obi's downfall?

7. What event illustrates the seriousness with which those who want scholarships After Mr. Mark's visit to Obi's office treat applications?

8. What are the examples evident of the author's use of humor When Christopher and Obi take Clara and Bisi dancing at the Imperial?

9. Describe briefly the incidents that occur between Obi and Clara on the night before Obi leaves for his visit to his home.

10. As Obi is caught with evidence of having accepted a bribe, how does the author indicate that outsiders have no idea how to account for what has happened to Obi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An outstanding feature of this story is the author's ability to illustrate the importance of stories, songs, and dreams in the lives of traditional Nigerians. Provide detailed references to stories songs and dreams in the novel, and use them to demonstrate the validity of this assertion.

Essay Topic 2

"Obi's downfall is the result of a series of incidents in which Obi's pride and impatience cause him to make imprudent decisions." Discuss the validity of this statement.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the roles of Joseph and Christopher in the novel, with specific reference to the role of Christopher as a foil to Obi.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,284 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample