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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 Cathy goes to the telegraph office to see if a telegraph from Ralph has come, what does she find?

2. Before converting to Christianity, what name was Ruth known by?

3. What disease does Robyn study by giving it to herself?

4. As Juba travels from Robyn's back to her husband's kraal, how many attendants accompany her?

5. Who does Bazo assign to kill Zouga and Louise?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene around Cathy and Ralph's camp after the plague had passed.

2. While Ralph and Wankie are talking Bazo comes up behind Ralph and accuses Ralph of lying to him. What reason did Ralph give Bazo for their trek?

3. When Ralph first sees the man who steps suddenly from the forest, what reason is Ralph given for the smoke he sees?

4. How does Robyn explain to Juba her reasons for studying her chosen disease?

5. When the lion pounces on Jan Cheroot and his horse, how does Jan Cheroot survive?

6. Where is Wankie's country located?

7. Why is Gandang so sure that the old times will come again even as his most senior wife tries to convince him that the Matabele has to change as the world has changed?

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

9. When Tanase greets Bazo as he is returning to Gandang's kraal, she calls Bazo a name that makes Bazo uncomfortable. Why does the name make Bazo uncomfortable?

10. Before Ralph departs, why does he warn Frank Rhodes not to send any unnecessary telegrams?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

In many ways, the novel is a series of contrasts designed to heighten the reader's awareness and draw the reader deeper into the story and the intricacies of each of the story's characters. Identify at least three contrasts that are used in the novel. Describe these contrasts and determine how they impact the story's plot, as well as the reader's emotional involvement in the characters' lives. If these identified contrasts were not included in the story, what impact would their absence have on the storyline, the characters' development, and the readers' involvement?

Essay Topic 3

There is no doubt that Ralph is greatly affected by the murder of his wife and infant daughter. In addition, Ralph's son is missing. Discuss how Cathy's murder affects not only Ralph's worldview, but his determination to find and punish Cathy's murderers. How does Cathy's murder affect Ralph's mental state, his ability to reason, his ability to trust, and his ability to hope? How does Cathy's murder affect Ralph in his role as father once he finds Jonathon?

(see the answer keys)

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