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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 was the approximate population of Bangladesh?

2. How many feet did the train ascend before descending into the gorge in Chapter 19?

3. Why did the young man leaving Bangalore to go to Bangkok in Chapter 16?

4. According to Mr. Thanoo, what metal was mined in Thailand and Malaysia?

5. To what American author did Theroux compare the Japanese writer, Hirai Taro?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who were the American-looking children Theroux saw throughout Vietnam?

2. Why was the man on the train to Calcutta running away from his girlfriend?

3. Describe Theroux's visit to the tourism office in Vietnam.

4. What was Theroux's reaction to the sight of the Goktiek Viaduct?

5. How did Westerners and Japanese react to the suicide of the Japanese writer, Yukio Mishima?

6. How did Colonel Tuan believe Vietnamese viewed Americans as the war wound down?

7. How was Theroux treated at the hotel in Mandalay?

8. What image was brought to mind by the sight of the Japanese workers doing mass calisthenics?

9. How did Theroux feel about the fast trains between cities in Japan?

10. What are the differences between Japanese and American consumers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Vietnam, Theroux wrote that his impression of American involvement had been doomed because we had no intention of staying. Therefore, we never developed a vision of what kind of nation we would leave behind, and the Vietnamese emerged damaged and abandoned. Do you believe the U.S. could have achieved its objectives had we remained in the country for a longer period of time? What responsibility did Theroux suggest a nation had to stay and rebuild another nation after involving itself in a military mission?

Essay Topic 2

An Indian man on board the train with Theroux in Lahore told the author he was fleeing racism in London. One of the things he complained about was being stared at. In response, Theroux pointed out he was stared at in Asia. While the language the Indian faced in London was obviously racist, did the staring fall into the same category? Why did the man seem unable to recognize the implications of being kicked out of first class? How did Theroux react to the stares he received and did he seem to view them as racist? Were either one (the Indian or Theroux) being naive?

Essay Topic 3

In the closing pages, Theroux reflected on how the book could have been different if he had written it as a novel instead of a travel piece. Did he focus too much on what his eyes saw or did he discuss what his imagination knew? Would the book have worked better as fiction? Would it have been necessary for Theroux to invent characters and situations in order to help the narrative flow? Did he make the right choice in writing a travelogue?

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