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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 pedal to with Marie?

2. Why does Camara get hospitalized during his first year in Conakry?

3. Who gathers the boys to take them away for their teenage ritual?

4. Why does Camara still have one year of school until graduation when his friends have already finished?

5. Camara's mother gives him a bottle of liquid good for what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in the special hut where the young men are gathered before the actual circumcision takes place?

2. What happens towards the middle of the night when the initial procession around town finishes?

3. What happens at the airport and on the plane to France?

4. Describe the friendship between Camara and his two friends, Kouyate and Check.

5. When Camara returns to Conakry in October, what does he find out about the Technical College, the school he attended the year before?

6. How do Camara's parents initially react to his news about going to Paris?

7. What happens when Camara and his father go to talk to Camara's mother again, hoping to convince her to let Camara finish his studies in Paris?

8. What does Camara receive from his parents before he leaves home for Conakry?

9. Following their encounter with Konden Diara, the young boys face the real test of circumcision. How does the ceremony in Kouroussa proceed?

10. At the end of Camara's third year of school, he takes his proficiency examinations. Describe what happens.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 7 Konden Diara is introduced. What or who is Konden Diara? What does he represent? Relate Konden Diara to the rite of passage. Describe his presence in detail, using supporting evidence from chapter 7. How does he influence the boys' feelings? What do they know about him? Does he show up during the ritual? How? When? What is the secret behind him?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

In the African culture, rituals are important. Describe the preparatory ritual of Camara's father before he does gold work. What does this ritual involve? Why is this ritual important? Compare this ritual to other rituals Camara's father performs throughout "The Dark Child."

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