View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What color is the mother of the bereaved wearing at the funeral in "For Real"?

2. To whom does Darling describe her mother taking her get her to smoke from a gourd before she left for America in "Destroyedmichygen"?

3. Who is driving the car in “Hitting Crossroads"?

4. What does Darling call Uncle Kojo behind his back in "My America"?

5. Where are Aunt Fostalina's two jobs?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrative style of the novel change in "How They Left"?

2. What action does Darling commit that causes her to be looked down upon by the guests in "Wedding"?

3. Who is Tshaka Zulu and how is his character introduced?

4. How would you describe the relationship between Darling and the grocery manager Jim?

5. Where is Darling living in “Destroyedmichygen”? With whom does she live?

6. How would you compare the settings of Detroit and Kalamazoo in We Need New Names?

7. How would you describe the household where Darling works as a housecleaner in "My America"?

8. Whose car have Darling and her friends taken in “Hitting Crossroads"? Why?

9. How is the character of Kristal described in the novel?

10. How does Darling describe her impressions of America in “Destroyedmichygen”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the characters of Godknows, Stina, and Bastard in the narrative. How old are these characters when they are introduced? How are they different from one another? What are their relationships like with the protagonist?

Essay Topic 2

What are Darling's impressions of her cousin TK? How old is TK when Darling comes to live with him? What does TK busy himself with doing all of the time? How does TK's language style differ from Darling's?

Essay Topic 3

We Need New Names addresses several serious issues in Zimbabwe, including AIDS, sexual abuse, and severe poverty. Discuss how these issues are developed in the novel. How does the author use fiction to illustrate the gravity of the situation in Zimbabwe? Is she effective in doing so?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 705 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample