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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 which country is the young man being held hostage?

2. What does Charles want to speak to Bill about?

3. Where did Reverend Moon see Jesus?

4. What kind of face does the artist who painted Mao's painting have?

5. What makes the young man slightly sick at times?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Moon think about the faces looking at him?

2. When does Bill say he felt good as a child?

3. How does Scott meet Bill?

4. What does Bill say binds terrorists and writers?

5. What has happened to Bill in Chapter Eight?

6. Why does Brita say she can't talk seriously in cars?

7. How does Charlie say he is dealing with his current crop of moaning writers?

8. What does Maureen joke that is the only reason there are so few American faces?

9. How does Brita express her nervousness at the beginning of Chapter Three?

10. How does the author describe Maureen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 2

Why does the novel start and end with a wedding? What are the similarities and differences between the two weddings? What different meaning do they give the story?

Essay Topic 3

What does the Mao picture symbolize in the context of the story? How is Mao compared to the main character Bill?

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