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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. What is Man 'o War's nickname?

2. Why does Agba measure Sham in Chapter 8?

3. Why doesn't the French King's adviser want to see the horses from Morocco?

4. What does the wheat ear signify?

5. What does Agba think the Sultan looks like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sham do when the Chief Cook takes him to the market?

2. How do Signor Achmet's prophecies contradict each other?

3. Why is Agba summoned to see the Sultan?

4. Why doesn't Agba report the foal's birth to Signor Achmet?

5. How does the Sultan anger Agba in Chapter 1?

6. Why is a wild boar kept behind the Sultan's stables?

7. What is the significance of the white spot on the foal's heel?

8. What is the Duke's reaction to the Sultan's gift when the horses and their stable boys arrive in France?

9. Why does Mr. Riddle decide to retire Big Red?

10. Describe the gifts the Sultan gives the horses before they leave for France.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe how Signor Achmet's character changes from Morocco to France. What roles does he hold in each country and how does his station in life change between the two? What factors cause such a drastic change in his character? How does Agba's perception of Signor Achmet change as they travel from Morocco to France?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how different characters throughout the novel view Sham's potential as a racehorse. What factors influence the perception of Sham's potential? Which characters are able to discern Sham's true potential, and why?

Essay Topic 3

How does deception affect the characters in the novel? Which characters are deceptive and how do their actions affect Agba and Sham? Why do these characters choose to be deceptive and how do Agba and Sham rise above the circumstances that result from deception?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,005 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample