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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. According to the judge in Chapter 8, what does Stephanie have to do to prevent the court from possibly taking her child?

2. Who does Pieter's gift bring together?

3. What does Pieter get from the study that they kept for visitors?

4. What do Pieter and his companion drink while at the hotel?

5. Why does Pieter kneel at the blue-gum tree?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the news of Pieter's charges affect Frans, Sophie and Pieter's mom?

2. Why does Pieter yell "can't you read" to Steyn?

3. Why does Pieter decide not to confide in the new dominee about Stephanie? Later, why not confide in Nella? Who does he decide to confide in?

4. Pieter was allowed to go home but what did he find when he got there?

5. After losing both jobs, what happened when Stephanie went back to court?

6. According to Chapter 6, who is Smith?

7. What does Pieter's mom do after Jakob dies?

8. What is ironic about Japie telling Pieter he may come to him for marriage advice?

9. In Chapter 10, what is going on at Sunday service?

10. After writing and then canceling his letter of resignation, Pieter leaves the office and meets Anna on the street. What do they do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After Jakob dies, Pieter's mother and his wife and aunt Sophie band together. What does this new relationship signal in the story, but first, how does it come about since Nella has been sent away by Jakob?

Essay Topic 2

Each character's response to Pieter's involvement with Stephanie reveals something about them. Discuss this unveiling for Kappie, Sophie, Koos, Jakob, Pieter's mother, Vorster, and Pieter's younger sister and the captain.

Essay Topic 3

Dick, Smith, Pieter and the captain have all violated the Immorality Act in this story. Discuss each situation and provide a brief analysis of how each character's actions and corresponding outcomes reflect the legal and religious views of the society in which they live, as well as what each incident reveals about each character.

(see the answer keys)

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