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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. How long was Robert Knox held captive by a Kandyan king?

2. How many poisons did William Charles Ondaatje discover in Ceylon?

3. Where did Mervyn go to fight during a time when the university closed for vacation?

4. When did a Dutch governor's daughter throw herself down a well?

5. As he awaited his approaching marriage, how long after Mervyn had returned to Ceylon did he announce another engagement?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened at Philip Ondaatje's funeral?

2. Why was it difficult for Mervyn's father to argue with Mervyn?

3. How did Michael eat the curry he had for lunch at the old governor's home?

4. What did Michael see in a dream when he was staying at a friend's house near Lake Ontario?

5. Describe the kabaragoya Michael and the children found dead on the beach.

6. What did Michael dream on page 27?

7. How did Michael feel when he awoke from a friend's house near Lake Ontario?

8. Describe the tombstone Michael and his family discovered in a church in Colombo.

9. Describe how a visitor would approach the old governor's house.

10. Describe the thalagoya.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Michael indicated that resthouses were an old tradition in Ceylon. Discuss resthouses and the dispute concerning resthouses.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Michael's purpose for writing "Running in the Family" and whether he achieved his purpose.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how and why Michael decided to visit Ceylon.

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This section contains 755 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample