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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. Why did Kupanya claim that Njombo was not one of his men?

2. What did Tilly diagnose Rohio with?

3. What was Sammy's new wife's name?

4. What special item did Lettice Palmer provide for her two dogs?

5. What did Mr. Roos add to the trap to make it more effective?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the Kikuyu and Masai differ in their approaches to hunting?

2. Why were the other adults so upset at Mr. Roos for trapping the leopard?

3. Why did Lettice elope with Hereward?

4. Why did Robin agree with the Italian priests in their refusal to baptize or help Njombo?

5. How did the Palmer's house differ from the Huxley's residence?

6. Why were the villagers so concerned about the python near the village?

7. How did the other Europeans and the Kikuyu feel about the Italian priests at the mission?

8. What did the Kikuyu do to preserve memories of the dead?

9. How did Lettice Palmer view Hereward's desperate attempts to impose discipline on his workers?

10. How did the Europeans view the difference between a bribe and a tip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Early in the book, Robin Huxley had a confrontation with the locals over the way he wanted his family's house built. Why was Robin so determined to recreate an English-style house in Africa? Why were the Africans so opposed to some of Robin's ideas? In what ways would adopting the local customs make it easier to settle in to a new area? Is it always advisable, or even possible, to recreate a certain lifestyle in a foreign land? What are the benefits of adopting the local traditions? Do you think Robin and the other Europeans were concerned about losing their European identity if they adopted too many local customs?

Essay Topic 2

There are many interesting observations about men and women in the book. In various encounters, some of the natives are practically naked, which seems to offend the European men more than the European women. In addition, the African women often work much harder than their men and Ian said that African men were appalled at the level of freedom European women had. Write an essay outlining the different attitudes toward gender roles displayed by the Africans and the Europeans. Did either culture seem to have a better belief system? Did either side tolerate the others' beliefs? Was there room for compromise or were the two world-views too far apart to bridge?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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