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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. Who does Leith go to the ballet with in the 1930s?

2. What kind of records does Rysom have?

3. What emotion does Peter admit to having about Aldred's love of Helen?

4. Which childhood friend of Aldred's does Benedict want to know 'how things go'?

5. What Chinese town does Rysom warn Peter Exley about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Peter upset that Aldred found him a new place to live?

2. What impression of the Driscoll family does Aldred get upon meeting them?

3. Why does Aldred think Gardiner is still around him?

4. Why does Peter think Aldred is dead?

5. Why is Aldred touring Hiroshima?

6. Why is Exley living with Roy Rysom?

7. Why is Aldred equally happy and sad to be around Helen?

8. Why does Helen cry when hearing the story about Raimonda and Gigliola?

9. Why doesn''t the affair between Aldred and Aurora last?

10. Why does it take all day for Aldred to reflect and appreciate his good fortune for not being on the plane that crashed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Aldred struggle with finding his home? Why does he even have problems claiming a hometown?

Essay Topic 2

What are the great fires? Describe the great fires for at least three characters and how they overcome them.

Essay Topic 3

Explore location as a vital part of the novel. Discuss the use of exotic locations, great distances and war-torn countries and the way location influences the plot.

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