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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. According to the person who greets Tungata at the hospital, how long has the Umlimo been in the geriatric ward of the hospital?

2. Who sent the telegraph to Ralph that sends him rushing home to Cathy?

3. When two men are admitted into Gideon's home, who does the elder of the two men introduce himself as?

4. What is the name of Craig's book that is about to be published?

5. According to Leila, where does she believe the remaining stone falcons are?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the British intelligence chief coordinator expresses bewilderment at how the terrorists can move freely, how does Leila explain it to him?

2. When Roland's navigator inquires after the health of Janine, what does Roland realize for the very first time?

3. When the two men insist that Samson must join them, why does Samson agree even though he abhors violence and war?

4. As Ralph makes his way back to Cathy, why is locomotive driver terrified?

5. Why is Craig Mellow embarrassed when he walks into the museum and is greeted by the woman behind the inquiries desk?

6. Describe one of Bawu's Claymores.

7. What is Cecil Rhodes's final act?

8. According to rumors that Vicky and Douglas told Craig, what had happened to Roland's body?

9. Why does Jonathon love to haggle?

10. When Gideon suggests that Samson come back to the mission to teach, Samson declines dejectedly and tells Gideon that he has only learned two things he could teach the children. What are those two things?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Ralph Ballantyne and Craig Mellow - the survivors of each section of the novel.

a. How are the two characters similar in terms of their professional lives? How are they different?

b. How are the two characters similar in their personality characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses? How are they different?

c. If these two characters were not separated by almost one hundred years, how would you expect them to interact with each other? Would they get along? Be friends? Be enemies? Be supportive?

d. Each of these men loses the woman they love, were the men similarly affected or not? Explain your answers and your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

The author basically combines two different stories into one novel. The characters are only slightly connected through genetics and family history. Why might the author have chosen to tell both of these stories in one novel? What commonalities are found in each section? Would this novel have worked equally as well as two shorter stories instead of one combined story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Ralph Ballantyne wears different masks in the story. Identify, then compare and contrast the different sides of Ralph Ballantyne. How would the entire plot have been affected if Ralph had not been successful at deceiving those around him, especially Bazo? Why is it necessary for Ralph to wear different masks? Explain your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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