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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. In chapter 3, when the traveler and the emperor discuss a city Khan has imagined, what does Polo say about it?

2. In Hypatia, when Polo wants to see the sultan at the palace, who is he allowed to question instead?

3. Someone traveling to Maurilia will be invited to what?

4. At the beginning of Chapter 2, what do Khan's messengers warn of?

5. If a traveler walks into Zemrude with his head held high, how does he see the city?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why Polo says that one cannot forget the city of Zora.

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

3. What is the significance of the large metal building located at the center of Fedora?

4. In Chapter 4, why does Polo dissect every city he describes to Khan?

5. What does Polo come to realize about language in Hypatia?

6. How does Khan react upon growing impatient with Polo's stories?

7. How is Maurilia connected to its past?

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

9. How does Polo describe the young women of Armilla?

10. Why does Kublai Khan listen to Marco Polo's fantastic stories about cities he's visited?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After hearing Polo tell so many varied, interesting stories reflecting the state of Khan's empire, what conclusion does the emperor reach? What has he been trying to learn all along from Polo's stories? Does he get the information he seeks? What does Khan decide or realize about his empire by the end of the book?

Essay Topic 2

Which of the two characters, Khan or Polo, has a more realistic understanding of the state of the empire? Which would you say has a more hopeful view of the empire's future? Support your answers with examples from the story.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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