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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. Why does the King slap Marlowe?

2. What is the rumor about the airfield?

3. What does Marlowe recall as they are fumigating the bed?

4. About what does the King caution Marlowe?

5. What does the King tell the officers that sobers them briefly as they are laughing and playing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Lt. Grey stumbles from illness and what is the result?

2. Describe the transaction between the King and Shagata.

3. What happens when the King offers Marlowe $108 dollars as Marlowe's take in the transaction with Prouty's watch?

4. Why will the airfield detail have an agreeable aspect to it?

5. Describe the pursuit and escape of Marlowe with the money.

6. Why isn't Marlowe successful in going after the money and how is he care for with the medicines Timsen gets?

7. Describe Marlowe's visit with McCoy in the infirmary.

8. Why are King and Marlowe in the King's tent at the opening of Chapter 19 and what happens?

9. How does Marlowe manage to obtain a radio and what is the King's reaction?

10. How do Marlowe and the King reestablish their friendship after the King blows up at Marlowe about the radio?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 6, Marlowe's stories demonstrate how racism is integral to the Asian war.

1. Using Marlowe's stories in Chapter 6, discuss how racism adds to the normal atrocities of the war in the Pacific theater.

2. Research and discuss the Japanese racial beliefs in connection both with other Asian nations and with non-Oriental nations.

3. Research and discuss how the Americans used racism against the Japanese for propaganda in gaining support for the war in the Pacific. How do you think American racism influenced how Americans treat Japanese prisoners?

4. How much do you think racism play in the Japanese internment camps in the United States during WWII?

Essay Topic 2

Often in an unusual situation, especially one as difficult as Changi, when the experience comes to a close, people respond in various ways--sometimes in ways that seem mysterious to the onlooker. Discuss the following:

1. Describe how the King, Marlowe, and Sean each respond to liberation and discuss why you think they do so. Does each response make sense to those who come to help the POWs? Does it make sense to you, the reader?

2. Choose three characters and discuss how you think the experience at Changi will impact their future behavior. Will the impact be mainly negative? Or will there be some positive outcomes? Do you think any of them suppress the memories of the experience? Why or why not.

3. It is obvious how such a situation as Changi can have a negative effect on those incarcerated there, but it is possible that there are positive outcomes also. Discuss some of the possible positive effects such an experience might have on a person.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss KING RAT based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if KING RAT is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the fact that KING RAT is based upon a real-life experience of the author changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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