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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Alfa think "the Captain's France" requires of him and other Black soldiers?
(a) For them to write a lot of letters home telling their people everything is OK.
(b) For them to "play the savage" when it is required of them.
(c) For them to go first and into the most dangerous territory in battle.
(d) For them to eat as much as possible.

2. How old is Alfa when the novel starts?
(a) 40.
(b) 20.
(c) 18.
(d) 35.

3. What does Alfa always come back to the trenches with after Mademba dies?
(a) A severed hand and the rifle it carried.
(b) A pig.
(c) A head.
(d) A flower.

4. In Chapter III, what does Alfa think of his fellow soldiers?
(a) He thinks they are idiots who cannot think for themselves.
(b) He does not have any opinion of them.
(c) He thinks they are intelligent.
(d) He thinks they are very brave.

5. Where are most of the other Black soldiers from in the unit?
(a) The Middle East.
(b) Russia.
(c) China.
(d) West Africa.

6. In Chapter XI, what does Jean-Baptiste become that eventually leads to his death?
(a) A cook.
(b) A provocateur.
(c) A unit leader.
(d) An informant.

7. What rumor begins to spread about Alfa in Chapter VI?
(a) That he is an imposter.
(b) That he is the wealthy son of a businessman.
(c) That he is a sorcerer.
(d) That he is a God.

8. How do Alfa's fellow soldiers react when he brings his first few "trophies" back?
(a) They are pleased with him.
(b) They write letters to his mother about him, concerned.
(c) They shun him.
(d) They are indifferent to him.

9. What phrase does Afla repeat many times at the beginning of his sentences in Part I?
(a) Help now.
(b) Please God.
(c) I know, I understand.
(d) You know.

10. What medal is Alfa told he will be awarded in Part II?
(a) The Wallingford.
(b) The Croix de Guerre.
(c) The Gold Star.
(d) The Purple Heart.

11. When does Captain Armand finally call Alfa in to have a serious talk about his conduct regarding enemy soldiers?
(a) After Alfa is missing for three straight days.
(b) After Alfa brings back a severed head.
(c) After Alfa brings back his seventh severed hand.
(d) After Alfa stops speaking to anyone.

12. Why is Alfa missing one of his hands?
(a) He gave one as an offering to his sorcerer mentor.
(b) Due to a prank from a soldier-friend, Jean-Baptiste.
(c) He lost one when he was running.
(d) He buried one and forgot where it was buried.

13. Whose "more-than-brother" does Alfa become in the wake of Mademba's death?
(a) Death's.
(b) God's.
(c) Life's.
(d) Prayer's.

14. Where do the soldiers Alfa kills in the night always come out of?
(a) An outhouse.
(b) A church.
(c) A mortal-shell hole.
(d) A kitchen.

15. What does Alfa claim he reeks of?
(a) Death.
(b) Prayer.
(c) Hell.
(d) Righteousness.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Alfa think his fellow soldiers prefer to think might kill them?

2. In Chapter V, who does Alfa confess he was listening to right around the time when Mademba dies?

3. Why does Mademba leave before the others on the day he dies?

4. What does Alfa do to preserve the hands he severs?

5. Why are the fires the men make in the trenches so small?

(see the answer keys)

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