View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Leonia do on a daily basis?

2. Leandra is protected by two species, both of which are:

3. As Polo studies the wood of Khan's chessboard, what does he point out?

4. In Chapter 6, Polo claims that he's reached the point where, in the number of people he has known:

5. What do the residents of Ersilia do?

Short Essay Questions

1. It's not always clear in the story if Khan is speaking to Polo or merely imagining a conversation, such as when he supposedly confronts Polo regarding Venice. Whether the conversation happened or was imagined, what does Khan accuse Polo of regarding Venice?

2. Describe the dialogue that Khan and Polo have regarding the arched bridge made of stone.

3. When Polo suggests to Khan that the garden where they share stories may exist only in their minds and that, in reality, they may still be traveling, what does the emperor say?

4. How does Polo use the game of chess to help Khan better understand the cities of his empire?

5. Describe the two species that protect Leandra.

6. How do the cities described by Polo in Chapter 8 depict confusion?

7. Describe the two sides of the city of Moriana.

8. How does Clarice preserve and display its history?

9. How do the people of Beersheba regard the heavenly version of their city?

10. When Polo speaks of imperfections in the wood of Khan's chessboard, how does the emperor respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Quite a few of Polo's descriptions reveal the condition of a city in its past, present, and future versions.

Part 1) How is the time line or chronology of a city illustrated by Polo's stories? Cite a few examples.

Part 2) What is the significance to Khan of showing him his cities through their chronology? What meaning or message is Polo trying to impart? What type of understanding does he hope the emperor will reach from this time line information?

Essay Topic 2

Which of the two characters, Khan or Polo, has a more realistic understanding of the state of the empire? Which would you say has a more hopeful view of the empire's future? Support your answers with examples from the story.

Essay Topic 3

The two main characters question reality to the point where they are not sure if they are presently traveling and only dreaming of being in Khan's garden, or presently relaxing in the garden while dreaming of their travels. Which do you think is the case? Why? Support your conclusion with evidence from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 984 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample