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 Peter Exley value above all others: the cathedral, the governor's villa, the post office or the bank?

2. Where does Aldred consider the closest thing to home he has?

3. The affair with Aurora ends when Aldred goes to study in what country?

4. Where does Aldred think Helen lives while he writes his book?

5. Who is Aldred Leith?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why doesn't Aldred mind being alone?

3. Who is more curious about each other; Aldred about the Driscoll siblings or the siblings about Aldred?

4. What do Peter Exley and Hendriks talk about on the ship?

5. Why does Aldred ask his father for money when he returns from his Easter trip to Florence?

6. Why is Talbot afraid to take Japanese language lessons with Aldred?

7. Why is Peter Exley in Hong Kong?

8. As Benedict's health worsens, what is his greatest desire?

9. How does Aldred get the job of studying China and Japan?

10. Why does Aldred value the letters Peter has waiting for him iin Hong Kong so much?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Professor Gardiner contribute to the overall novel? How does his small role at the beginning of the book affect the novel in general and Aldred in particular?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Helen's transformation from a girl to a woman throughout the book. Describe her on the day Aldred first sees her. Describe her on the day he wakes her from sleeping on the front porch. What changes? Why does she change? Use examples.

Essay Topic 3

What makes Aldred capable of being a decorated war hero who turns into a pacifist? Explore the reasons he holds both distinctions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 727 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample