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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. Whom does Smiley fire with no explanation after Control is fired?

2. What does the person who calls Smiley at the end of Chapter 19 want?

3. What holiday is it when Control dies?

4. What year is Karla arrested on immigration charges?

5. Who is Aleks?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Irina's diary say?

2. Why is the Matron worried about Bill Roach?

3. Why do Guilliam and Smiley keep a secret from Tarr at the end of Chapter 22?

4. What does the memo that Smiley finds addressing J.P. Ribble say?

5. Why is Guilliam not suspected of committing any breaches while in the archives?

6. Why does Tarr become angry and lunge at Smiley?

7. Why does Haydon tell Smiley to cut himself off from Control?

8. Why is Smiley suspicious about Tarr during their conversation in Chapter 9?

9. Why does Lacon apologize to Smiley after he hears about the contents of Irina's diary?

10. What does Irina confess to Tarr during their time in Hong Kong?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of Martindale's story that Control is not actually dead? Why is it important that Smiley does not believe it for a second? What are his reasons for not believing the story? What does it say about him that he refuses to believe the story? Is it significant that Martindale seemed to believe it until he realized Smiley did not?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the use of mystery in the novel. What techniques does the author use to create a mystery for his reader? Why do you think the author keeps the identity of the mole a secret from the reader as long as if is unknown to Smiley? Do you notice any clues to the reader about who the mole is?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the relationship between Smiley and Jim. Why do you think Jim wanted to get his gun when he saw Smiley come to the school? What kind of history do they seem to have? Do they work well together? How does the author use Jim to reveal more about Smiley? Why do you think the author waits so long in the narrative to pair them together?

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