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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 was special about the animal killed by the hunters in Chapter 12?

2. What does the word "kali" mean?

3. How many cattle did Sammy own?

4. What animal did Elspeth worry would attack her pony, Twinkle?

5. What was a mundu-mago?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Elspeth viewed the dead leopard.

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

3. What did Tilly think was the ultimate reason for the Europeans to be in Africa?

4. In what ways did Elspeth find the siafu (warrior ants) the most frightening and mysterious of Africa's creatures?

5. How did Ian describe Ahmed's people (Somalis), whom he had lived among before coming to Africa?

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

7. How did Elspeth view the planned hunt versus the actual hunt?

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

9. How did the Kikuyu deal with the suffering of animals?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

The Huxleys encountered two "foreign" concepts in marriage during their stay in Africa--the notion of a "bride-price" paid to the prospective bride's family, and polygamy. Discuss how these two practices could have impacted the society in Thika. What would have been accomplished by Njombo paying a family for a bride? Why was he not allowed to marry her without sufficient goats to give? Did the woman appear to have any say in the matter? How did the multiple wives live? What were the European attitudes toward these practices?

(see the answer keys)

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