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 is Obi's full name?

2. How does Obi react to a song that the traders are singing while continuing his journey home on the wagon?

3. What moves Obi even though he has little religion left while on the boat looking out to sea?

4. Which veteran civil servant is assigned to teach Obi about office administration?

5. What is Obi told about the many dead dogs in the street when he visits the slum in Lagos?

Short Essay Questions

1. What references to bribery show that the members are very familiar with corruption in Nigeria At the reception held to welcome Obi home?

2. What contact has there been between Clara and Obi before being together in the Lagos slum where Clara has a dressmaker?

3. What happens at Obi's job interview with the Public Service Commission?

4. What views about the "bride-price" do Obi and Joseph discuss after speaking about Obi's job interview?

5. When Joseph reacts to hearing that Clara is an osu, how does Obi demonstrate his strong feelings about the matter?

6. What is the meaning of Obi's full name and why did his father give him this name?

7. What turn does the relationship between Obi and Clara take shortly after getting his new job?

8. What internal conflict does Obi experience while he is on his first visit with his father at home?

9. What story does Joseph recall about Obi's school days while he and Obi are at dinner at the Pine Grove?

10. What mixed feelings do members of the Umuofian Progressive Union have about Obi's situation at the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using specific examples, describe how the author introduces and develops family relationships as a major theme in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

What is the role played in the novel by the minor European characters in Obi's environment?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the roles of Joseph and Christopher in the novel, with specific reference to the role of Christopher as a foil to Obi.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 967 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample