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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. When Marco Polo first tells his tales to Kublai Khan, he uses:

2. What creates connections between lives in Chloe?

3. Polo says that each action in Valdrada is inverted in:

4. What tangible items do merchants trade in Euphemia?

5. Maurilia was once:

Short Essay Questions

1. What is it about Anastasia that it would make slaves of men?

2. How does the information provided to Khan by his other messengers differ from what Polo shares?

3. How is Maurilia connected to its past?

4. In what way are the people of Chloe connected to each other?

5. When Khan and Polo pause in between their conversations, pondering the meaning of what's been said, what does each imagine or visualize?

6. What is the significance of the evening breeze that Khan and Polo enjoy while conversing on the steps of the palace?

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

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

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 2

When telling stories to Khan from the steps of the palace, Polo emphasizes the importance of the evening breeze they are enjoying. Explain how the breeze serves as a grounding mechanism. How does it work to imprint memories in Khan's mind? What purpose does it serve the stories Polo tells? How does the breeze affect Khan's connection to the stories and his cities?

Essay Topic 3

Is it ever possible to tell whether Polo's stories have any truth to them or are completely made up? Why or why not? What examples or book passages support your conclusion?

(see the answer keys)

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