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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 does Tambu scold herself for not doing in the beginning of Chapter 5 concerning the Manyanga sons?

2. What other relative does Tambu spend a significant amount of time telling the doctor about in Chapter 9?

3. Who is Tambu's doctor in Chapter 9?

4. Who does Tambu choose as her main target for her plan of the three Manyanga sons?

5. What is one of the questions the voice asks Tambu in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the two men find Tambu passed out at the bus stop in Chapter 8?

2. What does Christine bring to give to Tambu from the village in Chapter 5?

3. What does the hostel matron, Mrs. May, try to help Tambu with in Chapter 1 and why?

4. What does Tambu offer to do to help Nyasha with the children at the end of Chapter 12, and how is the offer received?

5. Where does Tambu first hear of the room available in Mai Manyanga's house?

6. What kind of creature does Tambu routinely find herself brushing off of herself in moments of tension or irritation?

7. What kind of shoes does Tambu wear to meet the Widow Riley in Chapter 1 and who gave them to her?

8. Why is Tambu taken to the mental health institution in Chapter 9?

9. What kind of animal does Tambu envision when she arrives in the mental health institution in Chapter 9?

10. What does Nyasha urge Tambu to do for her own good towards the end of Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring some of the sources of tension between Tambu and her mother. Why does each woman harbor so much bitterness towards the other, apparent in their first face-to-face meeting as described in Chapter 19?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing the sources of Tambu's resentment towards her colleague, Pedzi.

Essay Topic 3

Early on in the novel, Tambu not only fails to help an acquaintance of hers as a situation in the street quickly escalates towards violence; she actually considers participating in carrying out violence against this woman, Gertrude (21). Write an essay analyzing the possible reasons and motivations behind Tambu's callousness, citing specific references to the text in your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample