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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. The narrator states that the person at the center of "Sarira" has a body that will transform into what object upon her death?
(a) A block of wood.
(b) A musical note.
(c) A grain of sand.
(d) A shard of glass.

2. The narrator enjoys the idea of performing what activity as a moral obligation to one's people?
(a) Watching films.
(b) Writing letters.
(c) Having in-person conversations.
(d) Reading books.

3. What are the narrator's feelings about guidebooks?
(a) They are destructive in their overanalysis.
(b) They are written by people who never travel.
(c) They are helpful for young travelers.
(d) Every location in them should be avoided.

4. How does the narrator view the locations in which she has been hurt?
(a) She obsesses over them.
(b) She makes a point of creating happy memories in them.
(c) She longs to settle in them.
(d) She blocks them out of her memory.

5. The first pilgrim featured in the narrative tells the narrator that the things he has seen are now what?
(a) Spoiled.
(b) His.
(c) Invisible.
(d) Fixed in time.

Short Answer Questions

1. One of Flight's vignettes sees the narrator judging a friend of hers who hates to travel in what manner?

2. What emotion does Dr. Blau see when he looks into the man's eyes who also hopes to discover preservation secrets?

3. The two businessmen sitting next to the narrator are traveling to a conference on what subject?

4. How many of the first vignettes focus on the narrator's motivations for writing?

5. In a vignette composed of only one sentence, a time change results in an hour-long flight appearing to be how long?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the theme of violence present within the story about the sultan?

2. The narrator's use of the word pilgrim throughout the novel is an allusion to what great work of literature?

3. How does the theme of deception arise within Blau's visit to Mrs. Mole's home?

4. Describe the unnamed narrator's first childhood experience as a traveler.

5. To what advice does the title "Guidance from Cioran" refer?

6. How does the theme of isolation arise within the vignettes that focus on Eryk?

7. Discuss the qualities of Flights that could qualify it as a Postmodern work of literature.

8. How is personification used to underscore the deep love Blau has for the study of anatomy?

9. What is the message contained within the vignette entitled "Travel Sizes"?

10. What is ironic about Blau's "unproblematic" (133) romantic life prior to his marriage?

(see the answer keys)

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