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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 does Camara pull Fanta's hair?

2. What does Camara's grandmother always do as soon as he arrives?

3. What instrument does the praise-singer pull out when singing the praises of Camara's father in chapter 2?

4. Why doesn't Camara's family member want to get too far ahead of the rest of the reapers?

5. What does young Camara offer to the animal he sees in his father's forge?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Camara's friend Kouyate Karmoko says that he's had enough after a particularly cruel beating?

2. What happens in Tindican during the rice season in December?

3. Where are Camara's parents' huts located, and what are the consequences of living in that location?

4. What do the reapers do while they work on the fields, and how is their relationship?

5. What does the praise-singer who acts as a middle man between the woman with the gold and Camara's father do in the workshop?

6. Describe Camara's school clothes when he is a child. How does Camara feel about these clothes while in Tindican?

7. What does the second half of the reapers' days look like?

8. A few months after all the beatings at school, the director of the French school is forced to resign because of a petition signed by all the parents. What did Camara's father have to do with this?

9. Describe the character of Lansana.

10. How do Camara's mother's special powers manifest themselves as physical protection?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 9, Camara leaves home for Conakry. This is an important change in his life in relation to his environment, lifestyle and companions. Compare/contrast all these changes to his life before he turned fifteen.

Essay Topic 2

The tom-tom weaves all the rituals together throughout the book. When does the tom-tom sound? How do the villagers react to it? Explore the importance of the tom-tom throughout "The Dark Child", using supporting evidence from the different chapters and scenes.

Essay Topic 3

Camara's mother has special powers. How is this explored in chapter 5? What do people request from her? Why? How does the procedure go? How do these powers influence her character and her life? How do these powers relate to her physical protection? Provide supporting evidence about how Camara's mother differs from other people in regards to the Niger river.

(see the answer keys)

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