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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. What book was Theroux reading at the beginning of Chapter 10?

2. Why did the professor say Indians claimed knowledge they did not actually have?

3. How did Theroux know he had touched bottom while traveling by train?

4. What game did Theroux want to play at the Pakistani club in Chapter 7?

5. Approximately how much did Theroux's meal cost on the train through France?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Afghan prison conditions mentioned by Mr. Haq in Chapter 6.

2. Describe the special requirements and characteristics of the Sikh religion outlined by Theroux in Chapter 8.

3. Why did Duffill appear to be so mysterious to Theroux?

4. What is the primary lesson about India's future that Theroux took from his nighttime wanderings around Bombay?

5. Describe Mr. Gopal, the embassy liaison man showing the tourist sites to Theroux in Chapter 11.

6. How did Theroux describe the Australians he encountered on the trains?

7. Why had Sadik still not taken a pilgrimage to Mecca when he met Theroux in Chapter 4?

8. Why was the destruction of the coral reefs a perfect example of the improvidence of the Ceylonese?

9. Why did Theroux find it insane that people were attending an American literature conference in Ceylon?

10. What was the Indian professor's view of Mr. Gopal's ignorance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The hippies seen on the trains throughout Turkey kept to themselves for the most part, not interacting with the Turkish people on board. Did Theroux think they were not experiencing authentic culture? How were Theroux's experiences in Turkey richer than those of the hippies? Do you think Theroux would have met the people he met in Turkey if he had stayed in cars with mostly Americans? Do you think the hippies were having a rich experience in Asia? How do you think Theroux felt about their apparent attitude toward the locals?

Essay Topic 2

While in India, Theroux noticed the strict seating divisions on board the trains reflected the stringent caste divisions in Indian society. Research the caste system and write an essay outlining the different divisions and the rights, perks, and job opportunities provided by each. In addition, discuss how the caste system affected Theroux's experience of Indian railway travel. Would it have been different if the caste system had not existed?

Essay Topic 3

In his travels through Japan, Theroux found the Japanese had a fondness for violent pornography and attributed this to the fact that the Japanese were overworked and too tried to think about actually having sex. Do you think this is an accurate assumption? What historical experiences or social traditions could encourage an acceptance of violent pornography? Does this attraction provide any deep insight into the Japanese character? Unlike in some of the traditional societies visited by Theroux, Japan seemed open to the idea of women working. Did the obsession with pornography say anything about relations between men and women in Japan?

(see the answer keys)

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