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 does Gikonyo invest his money in in "Chapter 6"?

2. What did Koina do for a living before working with General R.?

3. How does Gikonyo impress Mumbi before they are married?

4. In "Chapter 1", what does Mugo say working the land used to do to him?

5. Why does Gikonyo say he worried Mumbi would turn down his proposal?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Chapter 1", what happens when Mugo wakes up?

2. In "Chapter 5," what does Mrs. Thompson remember about Van Dyke?

3. How does Mr. Thompson help Karanja with the dog in "Chapter 4"?

4. In "Chapter 1," what things do the villagers talk with Mugo about?

5. What happens when Karanja visits Mrs. Thomspon in "Chapter 4"?

6. How does the narrator say Gikonyo courted Mumbi?

7. In "Chapter 7," what does the narrator say about Mumbi's feelings toward the Movement?

8. What does Gikonyo do in Nairobi in "Chapter 6"?

9. How does Mugo feel about the old woman in the village?

10. What leads to Kihika's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Research Kenyan independence and analyze the historical accuracy in this novel.

Essay Topic 2

Gikonyo's story is considered tragic by the narrator. Is Gikonyo tragic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the theme of loneliness in "A Grain of Wheat,"

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 638 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample