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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 is Colonel Chamberlain's relationship to Christopher?

2. Where is Akira and Christopher's "special spot?"

3. How does Christopher describe Miss Givens's smiles?

4. What is Christopher's initial explanation for Akira's reverence for Mrs. Banks?

5. What is the first question Christopher asks Sir Cecil?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Christopher tend to remember his boyhood companion Akira?

2. Describe Sir Cecil Medhurst's speech at the Meredith Foundation Dinner.

3. How does Christopher receive his magnifying glass?

4. How does the Emery case wrap up?

5. Describe Christopher's reunion with Colonel Chamberlain.

6. What does Sarah tell Christopher about marriage?

7. Describe an instance of Mr. Banks boasting.

8. How does Sarah Hemmings treat Christopher at the Mayfair flat?

9. Describe the opium campaign meetings.

10. What happens after Uncle Philip leaves Christopher?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does the opium trade play in the novel? How does it create conflict? How does it develop characters? How does it drive the story?

Essay Topic 2

What role does detection play in WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS? What inherent qualities in Christopher's character do you think lead him to this career choice? How do his family circumstances shape him as a detective?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the development of Christopher Banks. What is the reader led to believe about him at first? What things does Christopher say that encourage the reader to look at him differently? Is he a reliable narrator? How much more does the reader know about Christopher at the end of the novel?

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