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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. When did Francis de Saram die?

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

3. In 1971, what was the average age of the insurgents?

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

5. How many yards did the porch run along the front of the old governor's home?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Under what condition, did a friend tell Michael that he seemed to know exactly what he wanted?

3. What was the heat like in Colombo?

4. What myth was told about thalagoya?

5. What transpired when Simon Ondaatje and his brothers would gather on Sunday mornings?

6. Describe the engagement ring that Mervyn bought for Doris and Gratiaen and how it was paid for.

7. Describe the thalagoya.

8. In the introduction to Chapter 1, what nightmare did Michael experience?

9. What were the occupations of Simon Ondaatje and his brothers?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Michael described Kuttapitiya, the last estate where he and his siblings lived as children. Discuss Kuttapitiya and the Ondaatje's life there.

Essay Topic 2

Michael said that in Ceylon all classes of people gambled. Discuss the role of gambling in Ceylon.

Essay Topic 3

Michael and the children came upon a dead kabaragoya on the beach. Compare the kabaragoya and the thalagoya.

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This section contains 702 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample