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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. To what Catholic saint were the Ceylonese praying in Chapter 14?

2. What was the name of the actors' agent met by Theroux on the Orient Express?

3. What magazine was the elderly Indian man reading at the beginning of Chapter 9?

4. What was the tall, four-foot wide box found in the individual compartment in Chapter 9?

5. Why did the Ceylonese dynamite the coral reefs.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Why did Theroux have an early childhood fascination with train travel?

6. What was Molesworth's attitude toward tourism?

7. What were Theroux's impressions of the Pakistani city of Peshawar?

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

9. Why was Theroux fascinated by the taxi driver's offer of a prostitute in the Bay of Bengal?

10. Why did Theroux think the Orient Express was used as the setting for many stories of criminal intrigues?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In many of the Muslim areas traveled by Theroux, there was very little or non-existent public interaction between men and women. How do you think this lack of interaction helped or hindered the nations he traveled through? How do you think it affected the workforce? Is it possible to have both male and female workforces when they have to be separated? What impact did the lack of visible women have on the cultures seen in the book? Would having more women in visible roles have an impact on the society and, if so, how?

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 Japan, Theroux found the Japanese had some robotic qualities (automatically waiting in lines everywhere, doing group calisthenics at the office, etc.). Did that seem like a fair portrayal? What do you think caused the Japanese to behave in this manner? Do you think they had always been like that or had their history played a role in shaping their modern-day attitudes?

(see the answer keys)

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