View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why were the Orams leaving Ruiri?

2. What animals did the Huxley family take with them to Africa?

3. What did Elspeth call her pony?

4. What was the murder victim's name?

5. How long was the journey from Nairobi to Thika?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Mrs. Palmer react to the condition of the man who was attacked and murdered on her property?

2. Why was Tilly so overwhelmed by Africa in the first few weeks in Thika?

3. How did Mrs. Nimmo react to the wild New Year's party?

4. How did Huxley describe the Kikuyu attitude toward theft?

5. Describe the relationship the Kikuyu had with their surroundings.

6. How did the differences between Mrs. Nimmo and Tilly come through in their first meeting?

7. What kind of person did Ian Crawford appear to be?

8. Why did Mrs. Palmer tell Elspeth Huxley that she should get two of any animal she wished to keep as a pet?

9. How did Juma view the local inhabitants outside of Nairobi?

10. How did Elsepth Huxley describe the smell of Africa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lettice Palmer expressed fear about the potential for the Europeans' work in Africa to disappear without a trace, much as the ancient Africans' work had disappeared. Was it fair for the Europeans to say that the Africans had failed to put a permanent mark on the land? Are city and temple ruins necessary to prove that a great culture once existed? Why would the ancient African cultures failed to have left behind permanent physical proof of their achievements? Why is it more difficult to find out about ancient cultures when there is a lack of ruins? Do Africans and Europeans have a similar reverence for oral tradition and history?

Essay Topic 2

Elspeth Huxley pointed out that the Kikuyu language did not have any words for "thank you" and that the Europeans therefore often accused them of ingratitude. Why did the Kikuyu lack the words to express gratitude? Were they truly lacking in gratitude? How important are words in expressing thanks? Did they seem to display gratitude toward one another? Was Elspeth perhaps right when she said the natives simply viewed the Europeans as different and therefore, not in need of thanks?

Essay Topic 3

Settler Alec Wilson was determined to learn everything about farming in Africa through textbooks and governmental reports. Elspeth, on the other hand, was for the most part avoiding book learning and creating her own African education through activities and exploration. Write an essay comparing and contrasting these styles of "education." Are there certain subjects that can best be learned through books? Are there others that can best be tackled through actually doing them? In what ways did Wilson's approach illustrate a European approach to education and in what ways did Elspeth's education reflect that of the African children, who did not attend schools? Would book-learning help Wilson in Africa and would hands-on learning help Elspeth once she went back to England?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,046 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample