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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. With whom does Willem Van Doorn fall in love and father two children?

2. Which Saltwood goes to India with the army in Chapter Six?

3. What is the name of the Van Doorn estate in South Africa?

4. Where does Captain Nicholas Saltwood build his English estate?

5. What does the king of Zimbabwe put Nxumalo in charge of moving?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nxumalo decide not to return to his own village once he arrives in Zimbabwe?

2. What does the imagery of the opening pages of The Covenant, with animals grazing around a dying watering hole, convey about South Africa?

3. How does Frank Saltwood's relationship with Cecil Rhodes get him into trouble with the Dutch?

4. How does Andries Pretorius help the Trekboers get revenge on the Zulu warrior Dingane?

5. What is the Dark Time referred to in Chapter Seven, and what is its affect on Shaka's relationship with Nxumalo?

6. Why is Daniel Nxumalo arrested?

7. What does Mfecane mean, and how does Mzilikazi contribute to the period of Mfecane?

8. What role does rugby play in Detleef's life?

9. Explain why the Dutch want to gain control of the Portuguese fort at Malacca in Chapter Three, and what factor leads to their success in doing so.

10. How does Richard Saltwood earn the nickname Cupid?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trace the relationship of the Van Doorn, Nxumalo, and Saltwood families through the novel. How do the relationships of the families over the years reflect the relationships of the Dutch, the native African tribes, and the English in South Africa? Are the three families friends at the end of the novel? Why or why not? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the trekboers, the voortrekkers and the boers in The Covenant. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of Kharu, Khatje Van Doorn, and Annatjie Van Door in The Covenant. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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