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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. The youngest apprentice has become _____________________ lately.

2. What consumes Mma Makutsi's thoughts in Chapter 2?

3. Who is the owner of the new business across town?

4. Whom does Mma Makutsi call regarding her new business idea?

5. What is Mr. Matekoni's profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the visit to the new detective agency so insulting to Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi?

2. How does Mma Makutsi obtain the typewriters necessary for her typing school?

3. What is the author's purpose for the first two chapters of the novel?

4. How does Mma Makutsi arrive at the idea for her typing school?

5. What does Mr. Matekoni encounter when he comes to Mma Ramotswe's home to water the vegetable plants?

6. What is the difficulty that Mma Ramotswe faces now that affects both her personal and business lives?

7. Who is Mr. Molefelo? What does he tell Mma Ramotswe when he comes to her office?

8. What seems to be Mr. Molefelo's intention by contacting Mma Ramotswe?

9. How does the author show that Mma Ramotswe is deeply concerned for her foster children?

10. For what reason does Mr. Molefelo now need Mma Ramotswe's services?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the overall setting for the novel? Be sure to include geography, time period, and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Smith choose to use this setting in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for Mma Ramotswe's life. Will she still be running her detective agency? Will she have married Mr. Matekoni? Who will be present in her life? Where will she be living?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of women in Botswana in the early 21st century, the time period of women in this novel. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that their mothers did not have?

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This section contains 935 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample