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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 marched towards the police station?

2. Why do the elders want to kill the donkey?

3. What was the name of Karega's mother?

4. Mzigo hands Munira an invitation from ___________.

5. What is the name of Munira's home city?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the villagers' argument about Abdullah's donkey.

2. How does Munira realize that Karega has some connection with his past?

3. Describe Karega's experience on Theng'eta.

4. What is the real reason behind Munira's anger?

5. What reason does Munira give for opening a school in the town?

6. How is Munira's life getting better at the beginning of Chapter 10?

7. How does Karega's plan change the villagers' mindset?

8. How do the townspeople react to the two government officials?

9. Why was the year following Wanja's departure so hard?

10. What is Theng'eta?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 2

The novel is set in Kenya.

1) What meaning does Kenya bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in Kenya?

2) How different do you think today's Kenya is to the Kenya in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's Kenya?

3) How do you think the Kenya settings contribute to the novel's themes?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the novel's characterization. How well drawn are Thiong'o's characters? Select one of the minor characters such as Wanja's grandmother and discuss how much you know about his/her background. In what ways does Thiong'o provide the reader with information about that character?

(see the answer keys)

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