1. Why was the city in partial blackout? 2. What was the young woman doing at the bus stop?

3. In spite of the wave of panic, why was the young woman not in the least nervous?

4. What was the slinking black shadow?

5. Why did the slinking shadow not disconcert the young woman?

6. Why was the young woman curious?

7. Describe the black man.

8. Which feature of the man did draw the attention of the young woman?

9. What was the difference between America and the West Indian island?

10. What did the man ask from the white lady? What was lady's reply?

11. Why was the lady not willing to give a light to the man?

12. In what way did the man accept the light?

13. Why was the man smoking the half of a cigarette?

14. Why did the lady throw the cigarette away?

15. Why did the man make the lady feel uncomfortable?

16. What does the man mean by "In this country there are only men and women"?

17. What did the lady do in the bus?

18. What did the man do when the lady boarded the bus?

19. What was the impact of the man's behaviour on the lady?

20. Why does the approach of the man intrigue the American lady?

21. Why does man's quietness disturb the lady more than rudeness would have done?

22. The American woman had a typical racist attitude in the story. Do you agree?

23. What was there in the young man that was challenging and disturbing?

24. What had been the basis of lady's 'supreme confidence'? How was the man able to shake it?

25. How do the references to cigarettes function to structure the story?

26. In what ways do the race, class and gender affect the balance of power between the two persons, in the story?