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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. The way that Nathan pronounces "Bangala" makes the word mean what?

2. What do the girls find when they take Ruth May's bed away from the wall?

3. What is Leah learning?

4. With what illness does Leah become sick?

5. What does Leah begin to wonder?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tata Ndu want from the family in Book 3? How does the family respond?

2. What does Leah want to do with the men in the village? Who is not happy about this? How does Leah get her way?

3. Why do you think Adah begins to speak after Ruth May's death when she chose to remain silent before it?

4. What happened to Patrice Lumumba?

5. What does Leah tell Anatole? What does he tell her in return? Why do you think he responds this way?

6. What living creature invades Kilanga? What do the villagers do?

7. What happens to Rachel in her life? Do you think she is happy?

8. What does Nelson give to Ruth May? What does he tell her to do with it?

9. Why do you think Ruth May chooses a green mamba as the place that she wanted to be when she died?

10. Why does Rachel think that she can't go back to the United States now?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which character in the novel do you think that you are most like? Why do you think you are like this character? Which character do you think you are least like? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Kingsolver brings the United States into the novel in several different ways. What role did the United States play in the Congo at a national and village level? What does Kingsolver seem to think about the United States' role in the events in the Congo? Do you think the United States should have been involved in the Congo?

Essay Topic 3

What is the importance of names in the novel? How are names important for people in the novel? What is the importance of naming something wrong in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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