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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. Maisha snaps at Jinga for ______________________.

2. What does Fofo Kpee give the children to calm them down about meeting their adoptive parents?

3. With what does Mama spray down the house?

4. In what country does the story take place?

5. How does Maisha arrive home the next morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the premise of "Fattening for Gabon"?

2. What real life issue in Africa does this story address?

3. Why is Maisha a prostitute at the age of twelve?

4. Why do Mama and Papa encourage their children to sniff glue and drink alcohol?

5. Where does Fofo store his acquired goods and why are they really useless?

6. What is Baba's fantasy about Maisha's life and how does the rundown taxi actually symbolize the life Maisha will have?

7. Where are the parents of the children and why do they live with Fofo Kpee?

8. How does Maisha's physical appearance symbolize her stolen innocence derived from her beauty?

9. What treats does Fofo Kpee give to the children and what do they think is the occasion for the goodies?

10. How does Fofo Kpee explain the delivery of the new motorcycle to the children?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Monique in "My Parents' Bedroom (Rwanda)". What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Monique?

Essay Topic 2

Loss seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of loss? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 3

Explain Uwem Akpan's writing style. How does he deliver information? How does he develop characters? What is the general tone of his stories? What is the most appealing aspect of Akpan's writing for you? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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