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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 the special snake began to appear on a regular basis, what did it do?

2. The students' parents have been unaware of the atmosphere surrounding Camara's school. What type of atmosphere has it been?

3. Why does Camara's father send his children to school?

4. What do Camara and his friends play with while he's in Tindican?

5. What kind of a man is Lansana?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Camara help out in the rice fields during the harvest?

4. Describe the initial relationship between Camara and Fanta?

5. Describe the douga. What is its association to Camara's father's gold work?

6. Why does Camara's father always do the gold work himself, never leaving it to the apprentices or other workers?

7. How are Camara's father's apprentices treated, and how does Camara feel about this?

8. Camara Laye's earliest memories revolve around his father's forge. What is the forge? What happens there? What does Camara do there?

9. Describe the behavior of Camara's school teacher in the French school he attended as a child.

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

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

When Camara is a child at school, some incidents occur that finally lead to the resignation of the director. This whole episode proves the great influence Camara's father has in his community. Explore the connection between the resignation of the director and the role of Camara's father plays. Explain how the violence at school starts innocently, then reaches a height and finally stops all together. What was Camara's father's involvement? Support your answers with examples from the book.

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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