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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. What two traits does Amelia credit Evelyn with after her meeting with Lucas?

2. Why does Evelyn wake Amelia in the middle of the night?

3. What happens to Emerson in the early hours of the morning after Amelia has tended to him?

4. What animals do Evelyn and Amelia procure in the village?

5. Who is Amelia's Italian guide?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the group discuss at dinner the first night Radcliffe is able to join them on the balcony for the meal? What is the mood during dinner?

2. What does Lucas tell Evelyn that her grandfather had done with all of her possessions? How does she react to this story? How does Amelia react?

3. When Amelia takes Evelyn shopping, what does she learn about Evelyn? What does she learn about herself? Why is this important to Amelia?

4. While in Beni Hassan, what does Amelia come to understand about Radcliffe Emerson's tirade on the antiquities of Egypt? How does this affect her?

5. What do Amelia and Evelyn discover when they arrive in Armana? How do the two women react? What do we learn about Walter in this scene?

6. What do both Amelia and Evelyn realize they have seen in the dark at night? What do they decide to do about the problem?

7. 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?

8. Who do Amelia and Evelyn meet when they travel to M. Maspero's museum? How do the four people react to each other? What does Amelia realize about Evelyn when they leave the museum?

9. 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?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout her novel, the author builds suspense to keep the reader interested. Name three of the techniques used to build suspense and give examples of each.

Essay Topic 2

Radcliffe Emerson often makes comments such as "women don't think. A little forethought would prevent most of the suffering they constantly complain about." Do you believe Radcliffe is a misogynist, or simply hides his feelings of admiration for Amelia behind such statements? Support your position.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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