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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. What tasks does Charlotte mostly work at?

2. Who is one child who is nice to Gbessa when she is also a child?

3. Who is tasked with taking care of June Dey?

4. Who or what whispers into Gbessa's ear, giving her encouragement?

5. What is one name for the native Jamaicans that Callum Aragon is sent to oversee?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Khati try to delay Gbessa's birth?

2. Why is Mistress Emerson so fixated on the skin color of June Dey?

3. What happens to Charlotte at Emerson's plantation that she thinks accounts for other slaves shunning her?

4. What do the Lai villagers call Gbessa?

5. Why is Gbessa banished from Lai for a second time?

6. What do Gbessa and some of the other Lai villagers associate the appearance of the moon with?

7. Why is Dey brought to the Emerson plantation?

8. Who is the only one in the village that shows kindness to Gbessa, and why does this person do so?

9. What is Darlene's big secret?

10. Why does Callum shoot at both Nanni and Norman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do various different mothers in this novel cope with the tragic losses of their children? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Once Gbessa is settled in Monrovia, what are some of the sources of her power and influence? How does Gebssa's husband's, Gerald, powerful sexual attraction to Gbessa affect Gbessa's ability to achieve her aims and desires? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How does Safua treat Gbessa both before and after her exile? How does Gbessa feel towards Safua when she becomes an adult? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 609 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample