Setting & Theme: Things Fall Apart

Which of the following best describes the context of this paragraph?

• It explains why music has been an important part of the village’s culture.

• It creates a picture of Unoka’s past—the way life once was for him.

• It shows how Unoka’s region was geographically organized.

• It reveals a side of Unoka’s personality—his creativity—that no one knew about.

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E2.6D

During the harvest celebration, what aspect of his culture was most meaningful to Unoka?

• meeting other villagers during the celebrations

• enjoying the climate at that time of year

• playing music at the celebrations

• telling stories about his childhood

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E2.6D

Based on the characterization of villagers hosting guests for as long as three or four markets, making music and feasting, what can you infer about Nigerian culture?

• Nigerians tended to be wealthy.

• Nigerian culture revolved around feasting.

• Markets existed in Nigeria in the past, but now no longer exist.

• Hospitality and generosity were a key part of Nigerian culture.

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E2.6D

Match each vocabulary term to its correct definition.

• characterization

• the events, situations, or language that surround a particular word, phrase or piece of text that help explain its meaning

• context

• the time and place of the events in a work of literature

• plot

• the methods an author uses to construct a character

• narrative

• the sequence of events that take place in a work of literature

• setting

• a story, real or imagined, consisting of connected events

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E2.2B

Match eac vocabulary term to its definition

• theme

• the subject of a text, usually expressed as a single word or phrase in the form of a noun

• infer

• to determine something not stated directly by using reasoning and evidence from the text

• topic

• the central idea or message of a work of literature, often expressed as a general statement about life

That was years ago, when he was young. Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more, and piling up his debts.

What does paragraph 6 suggest most clearly about Unoka’s personality?

• He grew more amusing as he got older.

• He was finally forced to work for his livelihood.

• He was seen as more of a burden to those around him.

• He lost the ability to talk people into lending him money.

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E2.6A

6 That was years ago, when he was young. Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more, and piling up his debts.

From the evidence in paragraph 6, what inference can you make most clearly about Okonkwo’s childhood?

Answer choices for the above question

• Okonkwo grew up eager to follow in his father’s footsteps

• Okonkwo felt ashamed of his father’s lifestyle.

• Okonkwo vowed to repay his father’s many debts.

• Okonkwo was thin and weak from lack of food.

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E2.6A

6 That was years ago, when he was young. Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more, and piling up his debts.

The contrast between father and son supports the theme that—

• children tend to be stronger and more successful than their parents.

• we are often labeled with the reputation that our parents had.

• family relationships have a strong effect on our worldview.

• children of failures are less likely to work hard or save money.

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E2.6A