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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. How long is Camara planning to study abroad?

2. How does Camara feel about his mother's behavior each time he comes back home to find she has made improvements?

3. What does Camara find on the honor roll at his school every term?

4. What makes Camara feel very smart and helpful?

5. What does Camara's father's second wife hold up as a symbol for Camara during the circumcision ceremony?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Camara is a teenager, he must prepare for his culture's important rite of passage: circumcision. How and when does his ritual begin? How does Camara feel about it?

2. What happens during the first year Camara is supposed to attend school in Conakry?

3. How has Camara's hut in Kouroussa changed when he comes home for vacation?

4. Describe the character of Marie.

5. 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?

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

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

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

9. Describe the character of Mamadou.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The rice season in Tindican is something Camara does not want to miss. The harvest starts with a tradition. Describe this tradition and discuss Camara's thoughts about the tradition. What does this tell you about the character of Camara? Compare/contrast his personality to that of his parents.

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 3, the author introduces two characters of a different nature that are very closely related. Who are these characters? How do they differ? What do they have in common? What is their importance to Camara? What is their involvement in the community? What are their contrasts/comparisons to the previously mentioned characters?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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