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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 makes fun of Camara because he's feeling awkward around Fanta?

2. What does the woman do when the trinket is presented to her?

3. What does Camara do when he goes to the rice fields during harvest?

4. Why does Camara's father always do the gold work himself?

5. What do the reapers do while they work?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Camara arrives in Tindican as a child, how does his grandmother react?

2. What is the result of years of abuse for the school children?

3. How is the special black snake involved with Camara's father's gold work?

4. What is Camara thinking while he is in the rice fields with all the reapers?

5. What does the praise-singer who acts as a middle man between the woman with the gold and Camara's father do in the workshop?

6. After the snake encounter, Camara finds it amusing to yell to his mother, "There's a snake!" How does his mother react when he yells like this?

7. Why does Camara's father tell Camara the story about the special snake? What else does he suggest to Camara about the snake?

8. How do Camara's mother's special powers manifest themselves as physical protection?

9. What do the reapers do while they work on the fields, and how is their relationship?

10. When does young Camara find his friends in Tindican, and what do they do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The character of the praise-singer is mentioned in a few chapters of the "The Dark Child." What is a praise-singer? What is his role towards the community? When is he important? Explore his presence throughout the book; describe his tasks, influence and attitude. Compare/contrast his appearances in the different chapters.

Essay Topic 2

The walk to Tindikan is of importance to Camara. The author talks about two ways Camara does this walk. Compare/contrast the different implementations of this walk and relate them to their time frame. Why is this walk important to Camara? What does it bring him?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Camara's transition from childhood to manhood. How does this manifest in the book? How does this transition affect his position in his family? Give supporting evidence from the chapter. How does this transition further the plot? What is the author trying to point out with this episode? How has the character of Camara changed? How does his transition affect his mother?

(see the answer keys)

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