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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. What does Camara notice each time he returns home for vacation?

2. What do the women and the girls do after the procession?

3. What does the director in Conakry give Camara before he leaves the country?

4. How long do Camara, Kouyate, and Check sometimes disappear together during holidays?

5. When does Camara's rite of passage start?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How do Camara and Marie spend time together as teenagers?

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

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

6. Describe the character of Mamadou.

7. Describe the character of Marie.

8. What happens in the special hut where the young men are gathered, after the actual circumcision takes place?

9. Camara does not like one of the behaviors his mother exhibits when he gets back home for vacation? Which behavior?

10. What happens on the way to and at the train station before fifteen year old Camara sets off to Conakry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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."

Essay Topic 2

One day Camara finds a little black snake with a strikingly marked body. This snake is special and plays an important role in the first chapters of "The Dark Child." What is the role of this snake in the family? How did he become important? What does his presence mean to the different main characters? Relate this snake's significance to the community, to Camara, to his mother, and to his father? How does the snake add to Camara's father's influence and status in the community? How is the snake involved in the work environment of Camara's father? Support your answers with examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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