The People of Paper Quiz

Take our free The People of Paper quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!

In Part 2, Chapter 8 and 9, what seems to be the main reason that Smiley chooses to not attack "Saturn" (Plascencia) as he has been instructed to do by Federico? (from Part 2, “Cloudy Skies and Lonely Mornings”, Chapters 8 and 9)

Smiley has realized that Federico is insane, and that his vendetta against Saturn / Plascencia is a sign of psychosis.

Smiley has realized that Saturn/Plascencia is a human being, and is trying to do his best to carry on, just like everyone else.

Smiley has realized that Saturn/Plascencia is violent and desperate and might do something drastic to him and/or the other characters if provoked.

Smiley has realized that he and the other characters in the story cannot move ahead with their lives without Saturn / Plascencia, and that to kill him would be suicide.

Narration describes a "jagged path" left by Saturn in front of his home. What aspect of the novel referred to earlier does this ironically echo? (from Part 3, Chapter 24, Section 2 )

Federico leaving a soft path in front of his home for Saturn to meet him.

Federico leaving a soft path in front of his home to welcome Merced back.

Froggy leaving a soft path in front of his home for Sandra to return to him.

The Mechanic leaving a path for the last mechanical tortoise to return home.

The story of Cardinal Mahony echoes that of which character, and why? (from Part 3, Chapters 25 and 26)

Little Merced: the life of each character was changed as a result of accepting the call to become a person of God.

Saturn: the life of each man was changed as a result of loving, and winning, a woman.

Apolonio: the life of each character was changed as the result of each man rejecting a call to become a person of God.

Federico: the life of each man was changed as the result of loving, and losing, a woman.

Given what has transpired earlier, particularly between Saturn / Plascencia and Smiley, what do you think is the reason why Saturn’s columns in the early part of this section (Part 3, Chapter 15) are blank? (from Part 3, “The Sky is Falling”, Chapter 15)

Smiley had convinced Saturn / Plascencia to focus on another piece of writing: the blank columns suggest that he has.

Saturn / Plascencia had earlier said he was sick of the characters: the blank columns suggest that he has left them to their own devices.

Smiley had made Saturn / Plascencia promise to not influence the lives of the characters any more: the blank columns suggest that he has.

Saturn / Plascencia had earlier said he was abandoning the novel: the blank columns suggest that he has.

What is the difference between Antonio's reaction to Merced de Papel leaving him, and Federico's reaction to HIS Merced (i.e. his wife) leaving HIM? (from Part 3, Chapters 21, 22, and 23)

Antonio's daughter didn't have an addiction to limes.

Federico doesn't grieve Merced's departure.

Federico's son tried to keep his mother from leaving.

Antonio doesn't grieve Merced de Papel's departure.