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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. Which of the following is NOT something the narrator likes about her best friend?

2. What is Jubril's adopted Christian name?

3. How many. pages is this short story?

4. How old is the narrator?

5. What does a nosy woman on the bus ask Jubril?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is at the base of all the trivial conflicts in the story?

2. What is the narrator's father's advice to Selam regarding eating pork?

3. Who is Jubril and why must he disguise his religious identity aboard a bus headed out of the city?i

4. How does Jubril disguise his being a Muslim while on the bus?

5. Who is Hadiya and how does she impact the relationship between the narrator and Selam?

6. How do the policemen who take the sick man off the bus represent the corruption that exists in the country?

7. Why are the narrator and Selam no longer allowed to play together?

8. How do the narrator and Selam find a way to communicate with each other when they are not allowed to play together?

9. What is the core source of all the violence that takes place in the story?

10. What does the Chief signify in the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Uwem Akpan is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphor, and irony. Briefly describe each and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the book's title? What are some other possible titles for the book. List at least five and cite your reasons for each.

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 924 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample