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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 were the Buddhist monks doing when Theroux encountered them in Mandalay in Chapter 17?

2. What local delicacy did Theroux find for sale to passengers at the stations in Burma?

3. Why were there so few skiers on the train to Sapporo?

4. Which Hindu deity did the Bengalis worship in the other festival described by Theroux in Chapter 16?

5. Which religion's festival was banned in India?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Theroux's visit to the tourism office in Vietnam.

2. Why were the Vietnamese focused on providing foreign visitors with privileges?

3. How was the American woman living in Sapporo welcomed into the Japanese fold in the story retold in Chapter 27?

4. Describe the Japanese obsession with the high cost of living in Japan.

5. What was Theroux's reaction to the sight of the Goktiek Viaduct?

6. Why did Mr. Lau dislike Kuala Lumpur?

7. What common prostitution story did Theroux hear numerous times during his travels and how did the story told in Laos differ?

8. What did Theroux find disturbing about Osaka?

9. How was Theroux treated at the hotel in Mandalay?

10. How did Colonel Tuan believe Vietnamese viewed Americans as the war wound down?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The hippies seen on the trains throughout Turkey kept to themselves for the most part, not interacting with the Turkish people on board. Did Theroux think they were not experiencing authentic culture? How were Theroux's experiences in Turkey richer than those of the hippies? Do you think Theroux would have met the people he met in Turkey if he had stayed in cars with mostly Americans? Do you think the hippies were having a rich experience in Asia? How do you think Theroux felt about their apparent attitude toward the locals?

Essay Topic 2

In his descriptions of some of the railway stations through which he traveled, Theroux made it clear that many of the stations were ornate and reflected either the culture of the nation or the culture of the former colonial authority. Write an essay outlining how countries use railway station architecture to highlight their unique cultures. Does the effort to incorporate local styles help provide visitors with a better sense and appreciation of the country? What do you think Theroux could have learned from stations without any unique cultural aspects? What impact would homogenization have? Would it make all cultures seem similar?

Essay Topic 3

An Indian man on board the train with Theroux in Lahore told the author he was fleeing racism in London. One of the things he complained about was being stared at. In response, Theroux pointed out he was stared at in Asia. While the language the Indian faced in London was obviously racist, did the staring fall into the same category? Why did the man seem unable to recognize the implications of being kicked out of first class? How did Theroux react to the stares he received and did he seem to view them as racist? Were either one (the Indian or Theroux) being naive?

(see the answer keys)

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