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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. Prior to Elliott's party, what do his guests watch on television?

2. Where does Michael go to give his report to his superiors at midnight in his building?

3. How many Soviet agents are mentioned in the Prologue?

4. What is the mandatory party that Elliott is having that Elizabeth has to attend?

5. Where is Elizabeth expecting to go in again for her appointment that she considers mandatory for Michael to attend?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Mahmoud described on board the yacht off the coast of Long Island?

2. What does Michael receive that leads him to believe the dead man is Mahmoud?

3. How is the The Society for International Development and Cooperation depicted in Part Two: November: Chapters 11-15?

4. Why does Astrid go to Germany in her youth and become a member of the Communist Party?

5. Why is Elizabeth angry with Michael when he returns from his investigation to their house in Georgetown?

6. Why is Elizabeth jealous of Sarah?

7. What is the young Soviet agent groomed for?

8. How does Beckwith respond to the airline strike when he is on vacation?

9. What does Beckwith talk about in his speech to the public?

10. What does Susanna discover about Elliott and Beckwith's relationship as she writes her story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Michael and Nicolai are two intriguing characters employed at the CIA.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Nicolai had a direct influence upon? What are some events that Michael had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support to the group? Which one is stronger and why?

Essay Topic 2

Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story. The objective of this lesson is to discuss the use of foreshadowing in the book. Why does Silva insert foreshadowing into the story? Is it effective?

Essay Topic 3

The Mark of the Assassin is written primarily in the third-person point of view. Is this point of view more or less effective than telling the story from the first-person perspective of Michael?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 640 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample