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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Mrs. Warner provide for the children?
(a) sweets made from cocount sugar
(b) a soccer ball made from palm leaves
(c) school lessons on free days
(d) dolls and toys make from bamboo

2. How many Japanese guards are assigned to the women and children?
(a) only one
(b) four
(c) three
(d) two

3. How does Ferris describe Donal Macfadden?
(a) as a man who fought unsuccessfully to live
(b) as a trouble maker and difficult patient
(c) as a delicate, popular, and multi-lingual lieutenant
(d) as burned almost beyond recognition

4. What does Jean know from her own experience in the Malay jungles?
(a) the conditions of men prisoners
(b) the symptoms of cholera
(c) the incompetence of military doctors
(d) the lack of medicine

5. Now, after her inheritance, why does Jean want to return to Kuala Telang?
(a) to do something for the women in the village
(b) to remind herself of her past hard life
(c) to see if anything has changed since the war
(d) to find out where Harman is buried

Short Answer Questions

1. How are they told they must get to Singapore?

2. What do the women find when they reach the highway at Maran?

3. What happens to Ellen Forbes?

4. What is the unusual situation of the women when the sergeant dies?

5. Who is in the photograph Jean finds and shows to the dying sergeant?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do they have to do to get to Kuantan?

2. How does Shute show there is compassion among the Japanese?

3. Briefly describe what happens after the Japanese arrive.

4. Why is Strachan more or less retired?

5. What hope is held out for their removal to Kuantan?

6. What is Eileen Holland's attitude when her daughter Jane dies?

7. After Jean tells Strachan what happened to Joe Harman, what is Strachan's reaction and Jean's comment.

8. Explain why N. H. Strachan decides to handle the details of administering the will?

9. How does Jean show up in Strachan's office?

10. How does the real story of the novel begin?

(see the answer keys)

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