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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 did the natives take after negotiating payment for work?

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

3. What did Elspeth say she wanted more than anything?

4. Why were the Orams leaving Ruiri?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. What were the Huxley's first impressions upon seeing the land that they had bought?

7. Why were the natives so fascinated by the lamp, but did not care about the gramophone?

8. What did the Masai consider the greatest glory of mankind?

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

10. Describe the personality of Pioneer Mary.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A discussion about the European versus African concept of the passage of time prompted Lettice Palmer to suggest that perhaps the Europeans were wrong to be attempting to change the African culture. This is one of the only times in the book that a European suggests that the Africans' culture should be left alone. Did the other Europeans share Lettice's view? Did they seem to think about the issue at all or were they more concerned about making their way in Africa, regardless of what happened to the natives? Did the Europeans acknowledge that a complex culture existed around them?

Essay Topic 2

Elspeth Huxley at one point said that the natives never stole from one another, but did not seem to have any qualms about stealing from the Europeans. Why was this the case? What forces prompted the natives to avoid stealing from one another? How did they seem to view the Europeans and why would they be willing to steal from them? Did they view the Europeans as neighbors and fellow villagers or as something else entirely?

Essay Topic 3

Among the motivations for coming to Africa, mentioned by some of the settlers, was a desire to "bring civilization" to the locals. What exactly did they mean by that? Were they interested in bringing technologies and scientific advancements, or were they interested in more fundamental cultural changes (such as religion, government, etc.)? In what ways did the Africans benefit from some of the things brought by the Europeans? In what ways would their cultures have suffered irreversible damage? Were there things the Africans could have taught the Europeans had they been more open-minded? Is it ever possible to share advanced technologies with another culture without damaging that culture?

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