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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. When Ralph returns to the mines to check on Harry's work, how many men had Bazo originally promised to work at the mine?

2. As the story opens, how many days have the men marched east from the ruins?

3. What is the umbrella name for all of Ralph's companies?

4. According to the news from Bulawayo, how many men does Jameson have mounted and armed?

5. According to the Matabele, what is the only true form of wealth?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ralph think to himself when Zouga's rifle shot does not find its target, but goes low and left?

2. Why does Tanase not want to go to Ralph's camp for the night so that Ralph and Bazo can catch up?

3. As Jan Cheroot and Zouga debate how many days Zouga had originally marched east from the ruins, why do the two men disagree on what the actual number of days is?

4. Why does Robyn eventually publish "Trooper Hackett of Matabeleland" with her own money?

5. How did Ralph originally find the ancients ruins the first time he had ever visited the area?

6. As the Matabele men prepare to carry out their killings, what is Tanase's primary job?

7. Where is Wankie's country located?

8. Why is Jordan so uncomfortable when Ralph and Cecil begin to argue at the camp?

9. When Ralph returns home to find his wife upset by Cecil Rhodes, what does Cathy complain that Cecil Rhodes has taken over?

10. According to Hammond, what is the first objective in course of action that has been decided on?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the groups of people trying to gain control of the Matabeleland. Compare and contrast these groups in terms of overall number, organization, overall motivation, ability to plan, and success achieved. How are they similar? How are they different? Does any one group actually end up controlling Matabeleland? Why or why not? Support your answer with examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the second half of the novel, Janine is involved with two very different men. Compare and contrast the relationship Janine has with Craig and the relationship Janine has with Roland. Then, compare and contrast these two men. How do these relationships influence not only Janine, but also the other people that are in her life?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the story, there are several attempts characters that either die or are killed.

a. Identify three characters that do not survive until the end of the novel. Describe each character and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

b. Compare and contrast the characters that do not survive. What does the author have to gain by killing these characters off? What, if anything, does the author lose?

c. How would the story have changed if one or more of your identified characters had survived?

(see the answer keys)

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