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Quiz about White Thorn Big Book Little Questions

'White Thorn' - Big Book, Little Questions Quiz

'White Thorn' is a novel of Africa. Written by Australian author Bryce Courtenay, it is based in South Africa in 1939. ENJOY :)

A multiple-choice quiz by ozzz2002. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
ozzz2002

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
283,580

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
157

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the name of our main character? Hint

Tom Fitzsaxby

Voetsek

Mattress

Kobus Vermaak

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What is the name of the orphanage where Tom grows up? Hint

The Boys Farm

Johannesburg Boys School

Willemskrans Orphanage

Pretoria

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Who is Mattress set up to box against after the false accusations made against him? Hint

Frikkie Botha

Fonnie Du Preez

Joe Louis

The Dominee

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What language does Tom speak to Mattress in? Hint

English

Zulu

Dutch

Swahili

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. How did Tom recognise Mattress in the photo shown to him by Sergeant Van Niekerk? Hint

his hands

lucky guess

his torso

his feet

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the name of the book Tom stole from under the doctor's house? Hint

History of the Boer War

Abolition of Slavery 1834

The Bible

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

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Question 7 of 10

7. 'Izinyawo ezinkulu zika Mattress' is the password Tom used for his dog Tinker to give her permission to eat food offered to her, but what does it mean? Hint

Go to your Mattress

Mattress's big feet

Mattress's special food

It doesn't mean anything... it's a made up code

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. According to Tom, from what he'd learnt from church, who was the Almighty God against? Hint

The English

All of these answers

The Jews

The Roman Catholics

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Mevrou has six brothers. Which one of these is NOT one of the Van Schalkwyk six? Hint

Frans

Kobus

Gawie

Jakob

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of the scholarship Tom won, and what was his final mark? Hint

The Christian Ministry College - 98%

Johannesburg Collage Scholarship - 82%

Bishops Collage Scholarship - 95%

Our Lady of the Rosary Scholarship - 51%

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the name of our main character?

Answer: Tom Fitzsaxby

Mattress is the "pig boy" who takes care of the animals. Voetsek is actually Afrikaans, and it's an insult used to scare off stray dogs. And Kobus "Pissy" Vermaak is another orphan.

2. What is the name of the orphanage where Tom grows up?

Answer: The Boys Farm

Johannesburg Boys School may exist, but it isn't where Tom grew up. Pretoria is a reform school. Williamskrans (Williams Cliff) is the name of a town a few miles down the river from The Boys Farm.

3. Who is Mattress set up to box against after the false accusations made against him?

Answer: Frikkie Botha

Joe Louis is an American boxer, whom Mattress named his son after. Fonnie is one of the older students at the boys farm and the Dominee is the minister. Frikkie Botha was once a district amateur champion heavyweight boxer.

4. What language does Tom speak to Mattress in?

Answer: Zulu

Tom doesn't learn to speak English until many years later, even though he is English by birth, hence the last name Fitzsaxby. Although he was not entirely fluent in Zulu, Mattress helped him with words he wasn't familiar with.

5. How did Tom recognise Mattress in the photo shown to him by Sergeant Van Niekerk?

Answer: his feet

When Mattress was found murdered his face was unrecognisable. Tom only realised it was his friend Mattress by looking at the hardened soles of his "platform" feet. The Zulu people got these from years of walking across rocky ground until their feet bled and they finally hardened.

6. What was the name of the book Tom stole from under the doctor's house?

Answer: Abolition of Slavery 1834

Despite being born English, Tom didn't start learning the language until he was seven, mostly curious to know what the book he had found was about.

7. 'Izinyawo ezinkulu zika Mattress' is the password Tom used for his dog Tinker to give her permission to eat food offered to her, but what does it mean?

Answer: Mattress's big feet

Tom used this password so Tinker, his dog, would never forget Mattress after he was murdered. Mattress raised Tinker from a puppy, as Tom was not allowed to have a pet and had to keep Tinker hidden.

8. According to Tom, from what he'd learnt from church, who was the Almighty God against?

Answer: All of these answers

'The Almighty was definitely against the English all the way, and obviously against the Jews, who crucified the lord Jesus Christ, and Hitler was the same.'

'Because after the Jews, the Roman Catholics were the worst there was, worshiping idols and a man called the Pope and the Virgin Mary who was the mother of Jesus but also just a humble common woman because God wanted it to be that way.'

9. Mevrou has six brothers. Which one of these is NOT one of the Van Schalkwyk six?

Answer: Gawie

Gawie Grobler is actually another student/orphan at the Boys Farm. Kobus, Johannas, Pietrus, Kees, Jakob and Frans Van Schalkwyk were all arrested for sabotage, and Tom was punished as a result.

10. What was the name of the scholarship Tom won, and what was his final mark?

Answer: Bishops Collage Scholarship - 95%

Tom actually beat 2007 candidates and came second. Not bad for a rookie.

Source: Author ozzz2002

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