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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 Valentino say the rebels are burning down?

2. Why does the couple say they have barged into Valentino's house?

3. Where did Valentino meet Tabitha?

4. What country did Valentino walk to from Ethiopia?

5. Why does Valentino think the Sudanese have struggled in America?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Valentino's feelings about Sudan now he has moved to America?

2. Why does Valentino say the Arabs will destroy his village?

3. What does the name Michael remind Valentino of?

4. How does Valentino's mother react when they hear airplanes?

5. Why was Tabitha unusual among the Sudanese?

6. How do the Arabs destroy Valentino's village?

7. What is the story of creation?

8. What problems do the boys have at the beginning of their journey?

9. What does Valentino see happening from the church?

10. Why was Tabitha coveted by all the Sudanese men in America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of Eggers' previous books and contrast it with WHAT IS THE WHAT terms of the following:

1. Style.

2. Structure.

3. Themes.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the differences between the book and autobiography formats. What are the main elements of a book? What are the main elements of an autobiography? What can books express that an autobiographer cannot? How can autobiographies keep to the facts while still maintaining a level of entertainment?

Essay Topic 3

Who are the SPLA and how influential have the SPLA been in Sudan? What are Valentino's views on the SPLA? How does he express his views in the book?

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