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. In the phrase “an evening mopping up after a guy in a gimp suit who autodarwinates with extreme prejudice” (46), the word “autodarwinates” means which of the following?

2. Used throughout the text, which of the following does the term “hingmy” mean?

3. How often does Bibi note the dehumidifier needs emptying?

4. The phrase “the latest scuttlebutt about Dickie’s dastardly deviant’s demise” (47) offers an example of which of the following?

5. Which of the following is noted in the novel as “the oldest human science” (65)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What, per Liz, is the “first law of detection,” and what does it mean (38)?

2. What meaning does the novel to the phrase “two-wetsuit job,” and why?

3. What job does Tariq offer Anwar in the novel?

4. What items lead Liz to see parallels among the Blair case and others in Europe?

5. What reasons does the Toymaker cite for the Operation avoiding killing?

6. What reasons does Christie give for avoiding his medications?

7. What materials does Anwar note receiving to commence his consular duties?

8. What reasons does Liz cite for having been working the control center instead of supervising the Rule 34 unit (4)?

9. What does Liz note had been the crime or crimes leading to Blair’s arrest?

10. What justifications does Anwar give for frequenting pubs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At several points, the comment “Keep taking the happy pills, Liz. It’s better than the alternative” emerges. What is the suggested alternative? How does the novel indicate as much?

Essay Topic 2

Anwar notes his phone translating a Russian-language phrase as “impact in ten minutes” (23). What narrative effect does the translation have? How is that effect achieved?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, higher education comes under censure. What is to be made of the pattern? How is it to be understood? What in the novel suggests as much, and how?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 636 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample