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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. What do the Gikuyu people see as the white man's "magic"?

2. Who wishes s/he had been told of Muthoni's illness earlier?

3. Which of these is not a function of the small building Waiyaki is in at the beginning of Chapter Thirteen?

4. Which of these is not a skill taught to the children?

5. What is the season of long rains called?

Short Essay Questions

1. What images come to Waiyaki while he is trying to sleep?

2. What arguments does Kabonyi use against Waiyaki at the meeting?

3. What is Waiyaki's relationship with Kabonyi like?

4. Why does Waiyaki feel badly for Njeri?

5. Why does Muthoni think no one from her family comes to see her?

6. Before meeting him at Mukuyu, what is Nyambura's opinion of Waiyaki?

7. What changes Reverend Livingstone's mind about how to deal with the traditional tribal customs?

8. What is the subject of the songs sung by the children?

9. Why were parents proud when their child came home with a tear-stained face?

10. Why does Waiyaki become angry with the rain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of Kibonyi in "The River Between"?

Essay Topic 2

Choose at least two of the main conflicts of "The River Between" and discuss their development through the novel. Which characters are involved? How are they resolved? What commentary is Ngugi making through them?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the idea that knowledge is power and how Ngugi addresses it in his novel.

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