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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. Who do they learn has actually discovered the tomb?

2. What does Amelia tell Walter to instruct the cooks to make for the group the day following Radcliffe's crisis?

3. From whom does Amelia learn foreign languages?

4. Where does Amelia visit again before leaving Cairo?

5. What is Evelyn doing while Amelia works on the pavement?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Amelia Peabody first meet Evelyn Barton-Forbes, and under what circumstances? What does this meeting tell the reader about Amelia Peabody's character?

2. In the morning after their dinner on the balcony, Walter arrives at their lodgings with news. What is he excited about? Why is the news important?

3. Why have the workmen left the dig site? What do we learn about the beliefs of the natives of the area?

4. The night after Alberto's appearance, another gentleman from Evelyn's past comes to their hotel to say hello: Lucas Hayes. Who is Lucas Hayes, and why has he come to Cairo to see Evelyn? How does Evelyn respond to his visit, and why? What does Amelia think of Lucas, and why?

5. Amelia goes to bed after meeting Alberto and has a disturbing experience. What does she see and what happens? What qualities of Amelia's are reinforced in this event?

6. In Chapter 2, the author introduces a group of male characters. Two of them are to travel with Amelia and Evelyn. Who are these men? What do we learn about them in this chapter? Does the reader know what role these characters play in the story?

7. Why do Amelia and Evelyn decide to amend their plans and remain in Beni Hassan with the Emersons? Are both women happy with the decision? Why?

8. Amelia is awakened in the middle of the night. What wakes her, and how does she respond? What does she find in the morning that confuses her even more?

9. Why does Amelia suggest they stop in Armana? What does she hope will happen while they are in Armana? Is this in keeping with her personality?

10. What do we learn about Evelyn Barton-Forbes as she tells the story of how she has come to her current situation? Is she a wealthy English woman like Ms. Peabody? What has brought Ms. Barton-Forbes to Rome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the challenges for a writer is to close the tale and keep all of the characters in character. At the ending of this mystery, did the four main characters--Walter, Evelyn, Amelia and Radcliffe--behave as they always have throughout the story? As the story closes, are there characters who do things we did not think they would do based on their behavior throughout the book? If so, defend your position with examples. If not, explain which character(s) went outside of their character at the end of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Often, mystery writers are accused of withholding information from their readers in order to make it impossible to solve the mystery before the protagonists do. Was all the information needed to solve the case fairly presented in the novel? If you think so, outline some of the important details about the antagonists that were revealed earlier in the story, If not, what pieces of information were withheld, and were they important to solving the mystery?

Essay Topic 3

There are many characters in the novel who play against each other as foils. Identify three of these relationships, and explain how each person is enhanced by the characterization of the other.

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