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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. Who does Zouga send into the pit to hand up the equipment and tools?

2. After tying the nameless man to his horse, where does Zouga take the nameless man to?

3. What does Hendrick Naaiman consider himself to be?

4. Before embarking on the journey to Colesberg, how many years does Zouga spend chasing his grandiose dream?

5. Which character is a police officer?

Short Essay Questions

1. As the two men fight, Ralph is filled with hatred for his father. What is the source of Ralph's hatred?

2. While he is down in the pit, why does the Matabele warrior lean into the mud wall - the action that enables him to find the large diamond?

3. As Zouga approaches the location where he is meeting the nameless man, Zouga feels fear. Why does Zouga enjoy feeling fear?

4. How does the tribal warrior recognize Zouga when the men first meet in the desert while Zouga is searching for workers?

5. Describe the reaction of Zouga's wife when she first arrives in Africa.

6. When Jordan asks Zouga why they can't just keep the sculpture, how does Zouga respond to Jordan?

7. What most surprises Zouga when he first arrives in Colesberg?

8. On the way to deliver the statue, Jordan entertains the notion of running away with it. Why does Jordan end up delivering the statue?

9. How does Zouga react when the nameless man offers him an equal partnership in his scheme to gain profits by salting Zouga's claim?

10. After the road caves in, why does Zouga send his Matabele down into the pressure crack that the water had opened?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characteristics, roles, loyalties, and agendas of the following people in the story: Zouga Ballantyne, Mungo St. John, King Lobengula, Boza, and Ralph Ballantyne.

Essay Topic 2

Zouga Ballantyne seems to be a man who is supremely confident in his ability to come out on top. Identify at least three instances from the story that highlight his confidence. How is Zouga helped by his confidence? How is Zouga hurt by his confidence? Provide examples of each.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the story, there are several attempted characters that either die or are killed.

a. Identify three characters that do not survive until the end of the novel. Describe each character and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

b. Compare and contrast the characters that do not survive. What does the author have to gain by killing these characters off? What, if anything, does the author lose?

c. How would the story have changed if one or more of your identified characters had survived?

(see the answer keys)

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