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 interrupted Theroux's conversation at the Japanese National Railways office?

2. What city did Mr. Pensacola say had boring nightclubs?

3. What word was tattooed on the American civilian worker's right hand?

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

5. What Sherlock Holmes story did Theroux allude to in Chapter 19?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why did Theroux describe the Burmese government as a Buddhist bureaucracy?

3. Why were there no skiers on the mountain in Japan, despite the large amount of perfect snow?

4. How did Theroux feel about the fast trains between cities in Japan?

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

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

7. What are the differences between Japanese and American consumers?

8. Why was the man on the train to Calcutta running away from his girlfriend?

9. What did Theroux find disturbing about Osaka?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe how Theroux felt when arriving home after four months of travel. What did he mean by "being flayed" by the lengthy trip? Do you think it is possible to become sick and tired of an activity you usually treasure? Do you think someone can regain that love by avoiding the activity for awhile or are some desires simply ingrained in people (and will Theroux be struck by wanderlust yet again)?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout many of the countries Theroux visited for the book, there were many brothels and prostitutes available. Was this a unique phenomenon of Asian societies or was the prostitution simply more out in the open than in Western societies? Did prostitution seem more acceptable in the countries visited by Theroux? Did the greater availability to brothels suggest different cultural attitudes toward the world's oldest profession?

Essay Topic 3

While in India, Theroux noticed the strict seating divisions on board the trains reflected the stringent caste divisions in Indian society. Research the caste system and write an essay outlining the different divisions and the rights, perks, and job opportunities provided by each. In addition, discuss how the caste system affected Theroux's experience of Indian railway travel. Would it have been different if the caste system had not existed?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,030 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample