View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which type of energy is Isaac most interested in?

2. What is the name of the the flying wyrman handyman?

3. What does Mr. Motley have multiples of?

4. What neighborhood did Lin grow up in?

5. Why does Lin accept Mr. Motley's proposal?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Kinken?

2. Who is Mr. Motley?

3. What are the details of Dr. Barbile's death?

4. What does Lin tell Isaac she must purchase for her in the morning of the novel's first chapter?

5. What disagreement do Issac and Yagharek have about the power source that will be used to propel his flight?

6. How do the people of New Crobuzon react when they hear that Isaac is studying flying creatures?

7. Upon freeing itself from the laboratory, where does the slake moth head, and how do the townspeople react?

8. Why is Vermishank killed?

9. What type of scientist would Isaac say he is?

10. Why does the slake moth attack Lumlamai?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the opening of the novel, the reader has a very clear impression of Isaac's relationship with Lin. First, describe the relationship between these two characters - why is their relationship unusual? Why is their relationship successful - and then describe how the relationship changes over the course of the novel. In your opinion, in what is the turning point in Isaac's relationship with Lin? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Isaac learns that he cannot trust many of the friends he once held dear to him. Choose two of Isaac's friends or colleagues that he thought he could trust, but turned out to be unable to. What changed in these relationships to destroy the trust between old friends? Given the circumstances, do you think Isaac overreacted to his friends' loss of trust? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

What role does Andrej Shelbornek play in Isaac's plan to defeat the slake moths? First, describe Andrej Shelbornek and how he came to be apart of Isaac's gang. Then, describe his role in the plan to overtake the slake moths. What message do you think Mieville is sending to the audience about current society through her inclusion of Andrej's character? Do you think Andrej's death is justifiable? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,007 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample