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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. Kotchikpa is surprised to find that ____________________ has been in on the plot all along.

2. How old is Maisha?

3. Which of the following is NOT something Maisha had when she left for work a few days ago?

4. Who is Naema?

5. Where are the children kept after the motorcycle accident?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Jigana and his siblings get money from people on the streets?

2. What is the premise of "Fattening for Gabon"?

3. Why do Mama and Papa encourage their children to sniff glue and drink alcohol?

4. What real life issue in Africa does this story address?

5. What does the motorcycle symbolize in the story?

6. Why does Mama give her children glue to sniff on Christmas morning?

7. Why would Kotchikpa think that the motorcycle is a reward from God?

8. What are the reasons that Jigana tears up his school items and runs away from the family?

9. Why is Maisha a prostitute at the age of twelve?

10. Who are the members of Jigana's family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of the narrator in "What Language is That? (Ethiopia)". What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about the little narrator?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Monique in "My Parents' Bedroom (Rwanda)". What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Monique?

Essay Topic 3

What is the overall setting for the stories in the book? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Akpan choose to use these places in the stories?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,011 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample