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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. Who does Bowles leave to meet?

2. What does Hogan's wife give Pascali?

3. What hinges upon Izzet fulfilling Bowles's demand?

4. What does Izzet say he knows about Bowles?

5. What does Bowles insist that he is doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Pascali becomes depressed by Dr. Hogan's talk of the Sultan?

2. Why do you think Pascali continues to let Bowles dictate the terms of their interaction?

3. How do you think Pascali's perception of Bowles relationship to Pascali enables Pascali to rationalize his blackmail of Bowles?

4. What evidence is there that Pascali may be in danger?

5. In the end, what do you think Pascali is left with of any value?

6. Summarize the interaction between Pascali and Bowles just before Pascali leaves the evacuation site and explain if you think Pascali intends to follow through on the agreement with Bowles.

7. Summarize the interaction between Pascali and Bowles and one probable hidden meaning.

8. In what position does Bowles place Pascali in not meeting with Izzet at the hotel and how is this ironic?

9. What is some information that Pascali has learned in this section and do you think any of the information will determine a course of action for Pascali?

10. What do you think is Pascali's interpretation of the man he follows and sees laughing with Bowles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Section 9, the symbolic representation of Bowles' arm and Lydia's body as they made love in Pascali's memory shows Pascali's belief that Bowles and he are unique in their ability to blend reality with lies. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. Do you think the ability to blend reality with lies is unique to Pascali and Bowles in the novel? Who else do you think has this ability? Is it an ability? A defect in character? A psychological problem?

2. How about in "real" life--do you know people who blend reality with lies? Give some examples when you have encountered someone who does this. Did it make you distrust the person?

3. Is there ever a good reason to blend reality with lies? What about for emotional protection when a child is in an abusive situation? Ultimately who is most harmed by someone who blends reality with lies--the one doing it or the one who believes the person? Or both?

Essay Topic 2

Pascali seems convinced that his death (at the hands of an assassin) is imminent. Much of what he does is motivated from a sense of self-preservation. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Give the reasons Pascali thinks he has been found out to be a spy. Do they seem valid?

2. How does Pascali think he himself inadvertently "outed" himself as a spy? Give examples. Are the reasons he give ones that would make you suspect someone of being a spy?

3. After Pascali meets up with Politis in section 8, the exchange between the two of them changes Pascali's thoughts about whether the townspeople have figured out he is a spy. How does he change? Does this change seem logical and based on solid reasoning?

4. At the end of the book, Pascali is again waiting for his death, thinking that there are those who want to kill him. What seems to be the truth to you? Is Pascali in danger? Why or why not? Was he ever in danger throughout the entire book? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

In Section 15, Pascali realizes Bowles believes himself to be on a mission from a higher power and that the balance between his zest for archeology and his drive for financial gain has broken, leaving him nearly insane Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. Pascali makes a pretty astute observation about Bowles. What do you think the phrase means--the balance between his zest for archeology and his drive for financial gain has broken leaving him [Bowles] nearly insane. Give examples from the entire book that has lead up to this moment.

2. In "real" life, most of us are at times driven to compromise between two things--sometimes both seem to be necessary evils; sometime one seems necessary, but it conflicts with something else that is only wanted; sometimes it can be a conflict between two things you want, neither which are essential for health and well being. Write about a time in your life when you were torn between two things, both of which you wanted, but which if one was achieved, the other had to be compromised or abandoned.

3. Do you think many people who "go off the deep end" and commit such horrible acts as mass shootings are people who are extremely conflicted by warring wants/natures? Discuss this idea using specific examples.

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