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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 does Mr. Hibbert say he used to run in China?

2. What does Ricardo say will happen if he tells his story to Jerry?

3. Why does Smiley believe Drake Ko was going to smuggle Nelson out of China?

4. What career does Nelson learn while in Russia?

5. In Part 2, Chapter 13, who shows up at Jerry and Elizabeth's dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Smiley send agents to interview Mr. Hibbert?

2. How does Smiley react when Jerry leaves the morgue in Part 2, Chapter 14?

3. In Part 1, Chapter 11, why does Smiley begin to have a difficult time with his investigation?

4. Why does Jerry believe Nelson will land on the island of Po Toi?

5. What happens when Smiley orders Jerry to return to London?

6. What explanation does Ricardo give Jerry for why people thought he was dead?

7. What makes Guillam suspicious of Sam Collins?

8. What agreement does Smiley reach with the American agents?

9. What happens to Smiley and his team at the end of this novel?

10. Why does Jerry decide to not return to England after meeting with Ricardo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Smiley's professional success. How does Smiley succeed? How does Smiley fail? Which one is more important and why?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways is the continent of Asia a character in this novel? How does Asia develop as a setting? How does Asia shape the plot and the characters?

Essay Topic 3

What do drugs symbolize in this novel? Examine three things that drugs represent in the novel. How does the use of this literary device help to create the plot and meaning of the novel?

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