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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Daba produce when Lady Mother-in-Law wants the monthly salary continued?
(a) Four witnesses that say Mother-in-Law abused the deceased.
(b) An affidavit with a list of what Binetou's villa contained.
(c) A box of jewelry for Mother-in-Law.
(d) A court order doubling the amount.

2. Who is Aunty Nabou?
(a) The narrator's second cousin.
(b) Mawdo's mother.
(c) The mother of the country's president.
(d) The narrator's mother-in-law.

3. Why is the narrator upset about the sister-in-laws song?
(a) Because they sing out of key.
(b) Because they praise both wifes equally.
(c) Because they do not remember the narrator's name.
(d) Because they do not sing the complete song.

4. What is the narrator's state of mind at the opening of the book?
(a) Depressed.
(b) Distraught.
(c) Angry.
(d) Happy.

5. How does the narrator feel about Modou taking a second wife?
(a) She does not know he did so.
(b) Indifferent since she is the first and most important wife.
(c) Betrayed.
(d) Glad to have someone to share household chores.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is said out loud during the mourning rituals?

2. How might one describe the culture of the Senegal people?

3. To where does Aunty Nabou travel?

4. According to the narrator, what did Modou do to gain her as a wife?

5. According to the narrator, what is the purpose of teaching?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the response to the taking down of the hair by each wife?

2. What decision does Ramatoulaye make about her three daughters (the "trio") in light of Aissatou's out-of-wedlock pregnancy?

3. Describe the process of "making donations." How does the narrator feel about this process?

4. Discuss the ritual of taking down the hair.

5. How does the narrator adapt to the absence of her husband, Modou?

6. How does Daba feel about her father marrying her best friend? Do you think Daba's friend, Binetou, had a choice in marrying Modou? What does the narrator think about Binetou agreement to marry the narrator's husband?

7. What are the circumstances leading up to Modou marrying Binetou?

8. Why do you think the narrator still puts up with her in-laws who irritate her and who continue to visit despite the fact that Modou is no longer living with the narrator?

9. How does Mawdo's mother take revenge agains Aissatou?

10. How might Aissatou's situation be a bigger problem in Senegal than for a woman with the same situation in the United States. What are the similarities?

(see the answer keys)

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