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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 Yoniata promise the women after seeing their condition?
(a) new shoes
(b) better food
(c) a truck
(d) a week's rest

2. What solution do the women come up with to allow them to stay in Kuala Telang?
(a) they will hide whenever the Japanese come around
(b) they will open a laundry for the Japanese
(c) they will work in the rice paddies with the Malay women
(d) they will marry village men

3. What occurs with baby Robin after the other Holland children all die?
(a) he gets a fever but survives
(b) he prefers to stay with Jean
(c) he returns to Eileen
(d) he starts to walk

4. Initially who in their group takes charge of the English women and children?
(a) Jean Paget
(b) Eileen Holland
(c) Esmé Harrison
(d) Mrs. Horsefall

5. What is the unusual situation of the women when the sergeant dies?
(a) they are prisoners without a guard
(b) they must decide where to go next on their own
(c) they are afraid because there is no protection
(d) they can escape but do not know where to go

Short Answer Questions

1. What do they find when they reach Maran?

2. What does Jean buy at Ayer Penchis?

3. What helps clear up some of their skin diseases?

4. Who shows up to berate the sergeant for not marching farther?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Jean and the group she is with get captured by the Japanese?

2. What prevents the group from marching to Singapore?

3. Describe the historical situation that brings about Jean's unusual history?

4. Briefly describe what happens after the Japanese arrive.

5. What does Mrs. Frith suggest the women do?

6. Why is Strachan more or less retired?

7. Describe how Jean Paget becomes the heir to Douglas Macfadden's estate.

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

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

10. Who is the first casualty of the march and what effect does it have on the children.

(see the answer keys)

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