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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. Just before Belinda goes upstairs to make up with Amma in Chapter 28, what task does she complete?

2. When Belinda first meets Helena, she mentally refers to her in connection with which physical attribute?

3. What nickname does Amma use to refer to her favorite teacher?

4. When Belinda is home sick with Amma, Belinda worries about falling behind in what arena?

5. What two actions does Mary only half-jokingly tell Belinda are her favorite things to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Amma believe about the need for love to be public?

2. What major revelation does Amma make to Belinda?

3. What aspect of Belinda's reaction to the news about Mary causes Amma to cry "hot tears" (223)?

4. How does Donkor incorporate sensory detail into Belinda's long walk between Streatham and Brixton Hills?

5. What reasons does Roisin offer for her ghosting of Amma and how do they all connect?

6. How does Belinda react to the major revelation Amma makes to her?

7. What is Belinda's reaction to the place to which Amma takes her on their eighth trip home from Abacus College?

8. For what reason does Amma instruct Belinda to smear cake icing onto her face?

9. How does Belinda feel after she tells Amma the truth about her mother's profession?

10. Describe Helena's personality.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What messages does Donkor send about race and culture within the novel and what themes are employed in order to send these messages to the reader?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of Housegirl and one of the novel's main messages. How does Donkor make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help them get across one main message of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how and why Donkor instills three different humanist messages into the narrative of Housegirl.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,165 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample