View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the goal of the narrator's education?

2. What is remarkable about the narrator?

3. What does the narrator wonder about those who come to acknowledge the deceased person?

4. What does Daba produce when Lady Mother-in-Law wants the monthly salary continued?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What evidence is there that racism exists in Senegal? What is the narrator's response to the problem?

2. How would you describe Ramatoulaye's attitudes about men and women? Could she be considered a feminist?

3. What are some things Daouda does when he visits the narrator that implies his future offer of marriage?

4. What are the narrator's concerns for some of her children?

5. What decision is made about Aissatou's pregnancy and how does Ramatoulaye feel about the decision?

6. What is happening politically in these three chapters?

7. 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?

8. How does Daouda ask for Ramatoulaye's hand in marriage and what is her response?

9. What is the first of Modou's secrets that is revealed?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marriage has changed dramatically in the United States even in the last fifty years. Research as to how marriage has changed in the United States. Do you think marriage will eventually be a thing of the past? Is marriage important for the stability of a culture? How would the culture of the United States change if there was no such thing as legal marriage? How would this impact the well being of children? Are there advantages to not having the institution of marriage?

Essay Topic 2

Greed has been one of the strongest motivators for much of the trauma that has happened among humanity--everything from stealing, lying, and cheating to murder, war, and genocide can be traced to individual and national greed. Find four significant events in history that happened almost solely because of greed. Discuss each event. What are the similarities among the events? What was the outcome? Who profited? Who were the losers? Is greed still a big motivator?

Essay Topic 3

Besides morality having changed in the United States, the differences between what is considered right and wrong vary from culture to culture. Research three cultures other than the United States whose predominant religions are different and learn about their ideas of right and wrong. (For example, use a country where Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism are the predominant religion). Discuss how these three cultures differ. How are they similar? Do you feel more comfortable with one culture over the other two? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,239 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample