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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. Why do others disapprove of Aissatou's marriage?

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

3. To what does the narrator compare teachers?

4. What gives the narrator the ability to buck her family and marry who she wishes?

5. What is one secret revealed about the deceased?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the family feel about Ibrahima?

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

3. Why is Mawdo's life as a physician successful and what are the implications of this?

4. What contributed to Modou's success in his work environment?

5. What is one thing that school does for the narrator?

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

7. 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?

8. What is a possible reason the narrator's first name is revealed in chapter 19?

9. What does Modou do upon returning from France?

10. What is Mawdo's response to Aissatou?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Racism. Many countries have been greatly impacted by bigotry or racism. Some racism exists even among a single race--for example, lighter-skinned blacks feeling racist towards darker-skinned blacks. Research the psychological reasons that motivate racism. Are these the only reasons for racism? Do economics or class play a part in racism? Do you envision a day when racism truly no longer exists? Why or why not? Is enough being done in the United States towards eradicating racism? Why or

Essay Topic 2

How different would this book be if it were set in the United States? Japan? Discuss some of the differences among Senegal, the United States, and Japan, as far as the relationship between men and women, the power or lack of power of women. What are some similarities?

Essay Topic 3

Morality is another concept that seems to be taught and thought about less often now than in the time of So Long A Letter. How has morality changed in the United States since the 1950's? What is considered acceptable now that was considered immoral then? What is still considered immoral now as then? Should morality change? Is the differences between what was considered moral behavior then versus now that significant? Has the United States been negatively impacted by the changing moral climate of the country? Has it been positively impacted? Such areas to consider might be marriage vs. living together; gay relationships; cheating or stealing; parent-child relationships.

(see the answer keys)

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