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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 Jerry receive from Toby that he shows to Smiley?

2. Where does Tarr go on a ferry?

3. Where in the chapel does Jim hide something?

4. Who has a strangely emotional farewell with Polyakov when leaving the safe house in Chapter 37?

5. Whom does Steve tell Tarr he needs to worry about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Smiley think it is odd that Haydon said he did not know about Jim being shot?

2. What does Mendel report to Smiley when he is watching Circus headquarters in Chapter 35?

3. What is the Minister concerned about in Chapter 33?

4. Why does Smiley go to meet Ann?

5. Why does Smiley visit Sam?

6. Why does Jim consider fleeing from the school where he works?

7. What do Smiley and Guilliam do when they arrive at the safe house in Chapter 36?

8. Why does Smiley visit Haydon's girlfriend?

9. Why does Smiley tell Lacon that it would be unwise to meet at his room in Whitehall?

10. Why does Smiley tell Sercombe they must stop the negotiations with the Americans about the secret annex on Witchcraft?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Look at the struggles Smiley goes through in hunting the mole. What challenges does he face? How does he overcome these challenges? What does his ability to find the mole say about him?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of Haydon's death? Why do you think the author decided to kill his character off at the end? What do you think the author wants his reader to take away from his death? How does his death move the story along? Why is it important that Smiley does not know who killed Haydon?

(see the answer keys)

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