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. What effect did Bowden's ideas have on his career?

2. According to the unificationist, the victim believed in what fabled city?

3. What have Borlú and Corwi devised in order to speak privately while in separate cities?

4. Late at night, after speaking to the informant, Borlú stares out his apartment window and does what?

5. Why are the victim's parents deported?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Borlú want to speak with the Oversight Committee?

2. What information does Borlú learn from Khurusch?

3. What is the Cleavage and what is known about it?

4. What does the video footage show?

5. Who is Syedr and what does he believe about Breach?

6. When Borlú arrives at an investigative dead end, Dhatt recommends he return to what? What is the outcome of this advice?

7. In the hours immediately following the discovery of the murder, what do the detectives believe about the victim?

8. Who is Aikam Tsueh and what is notable about him?

9. Who is Harkad Gosz and what does Borlú learn from him?

10. How does Corwi disagree with the initial theory of the murder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the author’s choice to tell this story by using a first-person point of view. How does viewing the story through the first-person viewpoint of Borlú affect the story? How would the book be different if the story was told through third-person narration?

Essay Topic 2

At the end of the novel, Ashil tells Borlú that “[v]olunteering’s an early and strong indication that you’re not suited.” What does he mean by this? For what is Borlú suited? How does Ashil know Borlú is suited?

Essay Topic 3

What do you think the future has in store for Tye after the close of the novel? Predict the future for Tye based on his thoughts and actions throughout the novel. Will he find satisfaction in his new life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 729 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample