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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. Where does Camara's grandmother store milk?

2. Why are there always many apprentices staying at Camara's father's forge?

3. What does Camara begin to do in the rice fields?

4. What is the color of the special snake Camara finds one day?

5. What is a sayon?

Short Essay Questions

1. Camara's mother has special powers. How is that manifested in chapter 5? What is her association to a horse?

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

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

4. What is the result of years of abuse for the school children?

5. What do you know about Tindican? Where is it located, and how does Camara get there? What is special about the trip?

6. How is the special black snake involved with Camara's father's gold work?

7. Describe the character of Camara's father.

8. After the snake encounter, Camara finds it amusing to yell to his mother, "There's a snake!" How does his mother react when he yells like this?

9. What does Camara's grandmother's hut look like?

10. Describe the initial relationship between Camara and Fanta?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chapter 2 of "The Dark Child" talks mainly about the gold work Camara's father performs. This gold work creates positive and negative reactions throughout the chapter. Compare/contrast the reactions of the chapter's characters in relation to the significance of the gold work. Use supporting evidence to discuss the different emotions towards the gold/gold work.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Camara's transition from childhood to manhood. How does this manifest in the book? How does this transition affect his position in his family? Give supporting evidence from the chapter. How does this transition further the plot? What is the author trying to point out with this episode? How has the character of Camara changed? How does his transition affect his mother?

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 3 Camara's school clothes are a theme worth discussing. Why? How do they look? Why does this cause friction for Camara. Why is this difference with his friends so important for the plot? Are these clothes an issue in Kouroussa? Why? Why not? Explore this theme with supporting evidence provided in this chapter.

(see the answer keys)

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