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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. What worries does Obi have about the expectations of the people at home as he makes his journey home?

2. Despite coming to like Christopher, what does Clara fear about him?

3. How does Obi explain his physical appearance when Miss Tomlinson says he looks run down?

4. How does the author make it clear that the association between Nora and Pat, and Obi and Christopher is affected by racial issues?

5. What character traits does Christopher display in the incident when he and Obi discuss the possibility of Clara's pregnancy?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does the author place emphasis on describing Obi's deteriorating financial situation after the incidents with Mr. Mark and Elsie, his sister?

3. What makes Obi decide to apply for local leave and visit his home?

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

5. As Obi and Marie Tomlinson become more cordial to each other, how does the author use these two characters to vary the portrayal of Mr. Green?

6. What changes about Obi's thoughts when Obi approaches Mr. Omo about a salary advance and learns that his financial situation is even worse than he imagines?

7. 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?

8. When Obi leaves Clara to go off with the doctor who is going to perform the abortion, how does the author reveal the extent of Obi's distress?

9. How do the incidents at the Roman Catholic convent in demonstrate limitations on social relationships in Lagos?

10. What is Christopher's reaction When Obi tells Christopher about Elsie Mark's visit ho his home and his decision to turn her down?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the title of the novel "No Longer at ease" as the author's comment on the result of Obi returning to a Nigeria--a society with which he is no longer comfortable.

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

Giving specific examples, discuss the author's use of literary, biblical and historical allusions in the novel.

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