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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 animal did Crawford "assign" to Mr. Palmer?

2. What faith did Juma claim to be?

3. What was Elspeth awakened by after going to bed during the party?

4. What game did Mrs. Palmer play with Tilly to get her mind off the dying man?

5. What animals did Robin have a hard time handling?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the personalities of Mr. and Mrs. Oram.

2. What was Lettice Palmer's first reaction to the health conditions in Africa?

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

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

5. What happened to Njombo after he killed the man on the Palmer's property?

6. Why did Elspeth get upset at the end of Crawford's story about the whydah birds?

7. Why was Robin having a difficult time with the oxen?

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 Huxley describe the Kikuyu attitude toward theft?

10. What did Lettice Palmer find most disturbing about Africa and what was she most concerned about for herself and fellow Europeans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the early chapters, Robin Huxley attracted the attention of the natives with his burning lamp, which the fascinated locals assumed was magical. What is the difference between magic and science for people not exposed to advanced technologies? Did a belief in magic and spirits slow down the natives' development of their own technologies? Would it slow down their acceptance and adoption of other peoples' technologies? Do the people with advanced technologies retain any beliefs in magic or spirits or does technology suppress those beliefs?

Essay Topic 2

Despite his lack of success in a number of endeavors, Robin Huxley continued dreaming of fortune and moved his family to Africa in his latest attempt. At one point, Robin and Tilly have an interesting exchange about other settlers, debating whether they are romantics or fools. Based on Robin's behavior, which category did he belong in? Were his dreams realistic or was he pursuing a pipe dream? Is there in fact a big difference between a romantic and a fool?

Essay Topic 3

Elspeth, despite her European heritage, sincerely believed that a charm would protect her duiker, Twinkle. In what ways did her belief illustrate how her upbringing was becoming essentially African? Why was she more open to the notion of protective charms than the adults around her? Was she doing a better job adapting to local traditions and belief-systems?

(see the answer keys)

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