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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What place does Selam have in her family?
2. The soldier wants to be a farmer or a ____________________.
3. In what country does the story take place?
4. Who tells this story?
5. Why does Jubril not watch the televisions on the bus?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is the narrator's father's advice to Selam regarding eating pork?
2. Who is Hadiya and how does she impact the relationship between the narrator and Selam?
3. What is the core source of all the violence that takes place in the story?
4. Why are the narrator and Selam no longer allowed to play together?
5. Who are the narrator and Selam and what is their relationship?
6. How is the story, "What Language is That"? different from the other stories in this book?
7. What is the unifying thread of the conflicts in the story?
8. Why are the passengers on the bus infused with a sense of urgency?
9. Who is Jubril and why must he disguise his religious identity aboard a bus headed out of the city?i
10. What does the Chief signify in the story?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Create a character study of the narrator in "What Language is That? (Ethiopia)". What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about the little narrator?
Essay Topic 2
Uwem Akpan is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphor, and irony. Briefly describe each and identify the technique which they embody.
Essay Topic 3
Compare and contrast one of Akpan's characters to someone you know in your life. Which qualities do they share? What makes them so alike? Do you like the characteristics of the two? Do they have any qualities you would like to emulate? Do you respect them? How do they differ? Explain.
This section contains 922 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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