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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. For whom does Modou work?

2. What do the narrator and her friends do at their house parties?

3. What is another secret revealed about the deceased?

4. Who leads the country when the republic is born?

5. What is the traditional contribution for funeral expenses from others?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is one thing that school does for the narrator?

2. What does Ramatoulaye feel about Daouda and his offer of marriage?

3. What is a mirasse?

4. Describe the narrator's living situation.

5. What decision does Ramatoulaye make about her three daughters (the "trio") in light of Aissatou's out-of-wedlock pregnancy?

6. What is happening politically in these three chapters?

7. What is special about the narrator and how is this looked upon?

8. How might Aissatou's situation be a bigger problem in Senegal than for a woman with the same situation in the United States. What are the similarities?

9. What is happening to the narrator's daughter, Aissitou, who is named for the narrator's best friend in the United States.

10. With what does Aissatou surprise the narrator and what is Modou's response? Does it surprise you, the reader, that another woman would give a car to a her best friend when the husband is not providing for her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Polygamy is against the law in the United States, but many other countries, including Senegal, allow men to have multiple wives but not wives having multiple husbands. What does it say about a culture that allows men to have several wives, but not the reverse and how do you think women are viewed in these countries? Should polygamy be controlled by law and what are the advantages and disadvantages of allowing polygamy?

Discuss the way you think a household with multiple wives would work, i.e., would one wife be in charge of the others and what about the children?

Essay Topic 2

Political systems. Several political systems are mentioned in this book, democracy and socialism being the most prominent. Research the differences between democracy and socialism. How would life in the United States be different under a socialist form of government versus a democracy. Compare and contrast a country that is considered to be a democracy versus one considered socialist. Look at individual rights, worker's rights, class structure, and one other field of your choice, such as medicine or education.

Essay Topic 3

Much is written in this book about the fact that education is necessary for a country to grow and become strong economically and to bring about equality of the sexes. The United States educational system is said to be on the decline, which may result in the United States being less competitive in the marketplace in the future. Research educational systems in several countries around the world; choose at least one country considered to be "third world," and one labeled "Western world." Compare and contrast their educational systems. How has the availability or lack of educational opportunities helped or hurt a country's general living conditions? In your opinion, what does the United States need to do to improve their educational system?

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