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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 more Khan listens to Polo's stories, the less certain he is that he is sitting in the garden or:

2. When Khan travels to visit Kin-sai, what does Polo do?

3. When Polo lands at the furthest city to which he's ever traveled, he arrives when?

4. What is one of Khan's biggest worries regarding his empire?

5. The people of Lenia awaken each day and:

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the significance of the strings in the city of Ersilia.

2. How does the perception of the city of Irene change depending on whether it's viewed by passersby or by inhabitants?

3. When Polo suggests to Khan that the garden where they share stories may exist only in their minds and that, in reality, they may still be traveling, what does the emperor say?

4. What are the theories regarding why the inhabitants of Baucis live up in the clouds and rarely climb down to the ground?

5. When people get lost in Eudoxia, what do they look at to find their bearings?

6. How do the people of Beersheba regard the heavenly version of their city?

7. How do the cities described by Polo in Chapter 8 depict confusion?

8. Who lives in the underground city of Eusapia, and who has access to it?

9. What eventually happens to travelers who decide to stay in Phyllis to discover all of its secrets?

10. Why is it that someone arriving at Thekla will see very little of the city?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At first, Polo does not speak Khan's language and therefore uses symbols and gestures to communicate his stories. Later, he learns to speak a language Khan speaks and is able to give the emperor precise descriptions.

1) Analyze how Khan interprets Polo's stories when they are told through symbols and gestures. How much does he comprehend? What is left to his imagination? How does he fill in the blanks?

2) How do Khan's interpretations of the stories change once Polo learns to speak his language? Is any information lost, gained, or transformed? Explain.

3) Analyze the differences in Khan's interpretations when the stories are told through symbols and when they are told through clear spoken language. Which interpretation is closest to the truth Polo is trying to convey? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Polo plays with the concept of light and dark. Some cities have beautiful sides along with darker sides. Give examples of these, describing in detail both sides. Are the sides real or imagined? How do they complete the whole? What do you suppose are Polo's reasons for sharing both sides to the emperor? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 3

A common thread through Polo's tales of Khan's cities is "dreams and imagination." His stories are not only informative, but also extremely entertaining for the emperor thanks to the element of fantasy Polo employs.

1) Using specific examples from the book, explain how Marco Polo carries the theme of "dreams and imagination" in his stories.

2) How does this theme grab and hook Khan into Polo's tales?

(see the answer keys)

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