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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. The "white city" described by Polo is:

2. When one leaves Zenobia and travels for six days and seven nights, where would one end up?

3. Which city has supposedly languished and deteriorated, forgotten by the earth?

4. Polo gives Khan impressions of:

5. Why does Polo initially rely on symbols to represent people and places?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the city of Zenobia.

2. Khan and Polo each envision model cities. From these models, what are the two men able to deduce?

3. Why does Polo say that it is best to visit Diomira on a September evening?

4. Why would you say the cities described by Polo in Chapter 3 have an especially dreamy quality about them?

5. Even though Zobeide, the white city, was made from the dreams of many men of different nationalities, how do strangers see the place?

6. What do the different models of the city of Fedora show?

7. Describe how the means of communication between Khan and Polo evolves.

8. How does Khan react to Polo's stories when he's feeling euphoric about his empire?

9. Why does Polo say its pointless to try to describe the city of Zaira?

10. What special ability does the mirror image of Valdrada possess?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part 1) Compare and contrast the two characters in the story, Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. In what ways are they similar? How are they different?

Part 2) What kind of a relationship do Khan and Polo have? What does each learn from the other? Do the characters grow and develop in any way through their interactions with each other? If so, how? Cite examples from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Part 1) What does Polo stand to gain by sharing stories about the empire's cities with Khan? What might he lose?

Part 2) How does Khan benefit from the information provided by Polo? Does it affect his ruling style in any way? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The two main characters question reality to the point where they are not sure if they are presently traveling and only dreaming of being in Khan's garden, or presently relaxing in the garden while dreaming of their travels. Which do you think is the case? Why? Support your conclusion with evidence from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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