Forbidden City

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the best description of Alex’s character early in the novel?

A) Dynamic

B) Symbolic

C) Static

D) Round

2. Why is Alex particularly interested in military history?

A) It is an escape for him.

B) He disapproves of weakness.

C) He believes his father is silly.

D) It fuels his obsession with knowledge.

3. What is the cause of the conflict between Alex and Ted?

A) Alex doesn’t appreciate the important work Ted does.

B) Ted is indifferent to Alex’s interests in military history.

C) Alex is angry with Ted for his mother’s abandonment.

D) Alex has difficulty relating to his father personally.

4. What best describes Alex’s feelings after he has been in China for a short time?

A) He believes Ted doesn’t care about him.

B) He feels socially isolated.

C) He doesn’t trust anyone around him.

D) He is wary of tensions in Tiananmen Square.

5. What is the best way Alex’s education in China aids him?

A) It permits him to navigate the city with ease.

B) It teaches him to understand Chinese politics.

C) It allows him to communicate with locals.

D) It helps him to empathize with protesters.

6. Why do Ted and Eddie develop a growing respect for Alex?

A) They admire his superior camera skills.

B) They are surprised by his adeptness with the language.

C) They are impressed with his exploration of the city.

D) They were previously unaware of his strong knowledge of history.

7. How do Alex’s interests grow and change in the novel?

A) His new experiences fan the flames of his military history obsession.

B) He becomes increasingly interested in current events.

C) He begins to understand the desire to be reckless like Ted.

D) His newfound friendship with Lao Xu escalates his interest in Chinese culture.

8. Why is Alex’s presence vital to the efforts of the student protestors?

A) It grants them access to a global stage.

B) It provides them with unique insights into Western culture.

C) It makes the students feel as though their voice is heard.

D) It gives them a sense of rebellion in China.

9. What political right is called into question in China in the book?

A) Freedom to education

B) Freedom to bear arms

C) Freedom of speech

D) Freedom to protest

10. How does Alex feel about the protesters in Tiananmen Square?

A) He is impressed by their sense of purpose and fortitude.

B) He thinks they are taking unnecessary risks.

C) He believes they are protesting matters that are insignificant.

D) He hopes they will succeed in toppling their party leaders.

11. When do Alex’s feelings toward his life in China begin to change?

A) After he looks at a map of Beijing

B) Following his growing friendship with Lao Xu

C) With his developed understanding of the language

D) When he begins to explore China on a bike

12. Based on the passersby’s reaction to the student who was gunned down after flashing the V sign to officers, what might the reader conclude about the bystanders of the incident?

A) They are callous.

B) They support the protester.

C) They have little access to food.

D) They support the government.

13. Where does respect for the PLA come from?

A) It is taught and reinforced in the education system.

B) It is televised directly and incessantly as propaganda.

C) It is earned because the PLA supports the common people.

D) It is mandatory, and people are forced to call PLA personnel “uncle.”

14. When does Alex’s love of military history change?

A) After he buys into what he learned in his Chinese education classes

B) Once he realizes that heroes do not wear uniforms

C) Once he understands that war is not a solution in the world

D) After he witnesses the carnage at the hands of the military in China

15. What element of Alex’s experience in China might be considered heroic?

A) He faces the conflict head-on to rescue his father.

B) He releases the tapes that tell the truth about the protesters.

C) He destroys his toy soldiers after realizing that conflict is not the answer to problems.

D) He helps the protesters by joining them in their efforts.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How does Alex describe the living conditions of the students he witnesses while he is injured?

2. What is the role of education for the student protesters?