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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 does Joao ask Lydia to do at the party?

2. In what country was Ali Ali born?

3. Which of the following is the one thing Lydia admits in her conversation with Silas over the phone, from the hotel room?

4. How many children does Du Boise have with his wife?

5. Who kills the British soldier that attacked Hajera?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens between Lydia and Mikey when Silas leaves the house after a fight with his wife?

2. While planning Silas's birthday party, what worries overcome Kate's thoughts at the dinner table?

3. How did Michael bribe the Imam to help him in his murderous plans?

4. Who is Joao?

5. How does Silas react to Lydia's birthday gift to him?

6. What story of abuse does Vinu tell Michael when she meets him at his home?

7. How does Lydia's life change after she returns from the hospital?

8. What information does Michael have, and think about, before he shoots Du Boise?

9. What happened when Michael witnessed a convoy of cars outside his father's birthday party?

10. How does Silas react to having Lydia back in their home to recover?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Perhaps Silas's biggest character flaw lies in his complete passivity in regard to his family. Give three clear examples of times when Silas acts passively when the circumstances ask more of him. What effect does Silas's passivity have on his family life? Finally, explain whether or not you believe Silas overcomes his passivity by the end of the novel, and why.

Essay Topic 2

The use of religion is carefully plotted out by Dangor as Mikey makes his transition from boyhood to manhood in the novel. There are two main religious icons used as symbols in the text: the Kaaba stone and the Imam. Briefly describe both the Kaaba stone and Imam, and explain how each of these religious symbols affected Mikey in his coming-of-age.

Essay Topic 3

One of the biggest acts of betrayal in this novel is the way that Alec betrays his friendship with Silas and keeps a dark secret from him for almost twenty years. Explain what secret Alec is keeping from Silas, and what lengths he goes to in order to ensure that the secret would never come out. Then, explain why Alec finally decides to tell Silas, and how this admittance affected their relationship.

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