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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. Who thinks that the Germans are oppressed?

2. Why can Sissie not join Marija for lunch with her husband?

3. At what age was Sissie enrolled in foreign education?

4. What does Sissie think about East and West Berlin?

5. With what does Kunle suspect the doctors experienced?

Short Essay Questions

1. What beverage does Marija offer Sissie in Part 2: "The Plums?"

2. What type of cake does Marija bake for Sissie?

3. According to a poem in Part 2: "The Plums," what shape are the women that men marry?

4. What does the German-born American professor tell Sissie that Germany, Ireland, and Africa have in common?

5. According to Sissie, what would have allowed her and Marija to have a love affair?

6. What does Part 2: "The Plums" say about education?

7. What does Part 2: "The Plums" claim is not a child's game?

8. To what city does Sissie travel to meet her West African friend?

9. How much weight does Sissie gain when in Europe?

10. To which cities in Germany does Sissie plan to travel after he stay in Bavaria?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing the foreign language terms, including any racial slurs, used within the novel. In your essay, consider why the author might use foreign languages within the text, and whether foreign languages are used to a similar effect or different effects in various sections. In your essay, cite specific examples of terms used in making your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay evaluating Sisseis's self-confidence as it is portrayed in the novel. Is Sissie a self-confident character? Why or why not? Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

The economics of education are presented at several points during the novel. Write an essay in which you analyze how education is related to economics as presented in the novel. In your essay, you might consider what kind of volunteer work and studies students undertake abroad. You can also consider whether the connection between education and economics is portrayed in a positive, negative, fashion (or a mix of both). Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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