FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about The Scar
Quiz about The Scar

The Scar Trivia Quiz


"The Scar" by China Mieville is a fantastic read. The world created within the book is so different, but so real at the same time. How much do you know about this book that was recommended by Lias777 in the Author's Lounge Book Club?

A multiple-choice quiz by zippolover. Estimated time: 4 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Literature Trivia
  6. »
  7. Authors L-P
  8. »
  9. China Mieville

Author
zippolover
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
366,962
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
122
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. "The Scar" is written in sections. The first part follows linguist Bellis Coldwine, as she escapes her home in New Crobuzon. To get free passage on board the Terpsichoria, what new language does she learn? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Terpsichoria was heading for Nova Esperium, a newly started colony. Apart from several paying passengers, what made up the bulk of the ship's cargo? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Why did the Terpsichoria call at Salkrikaltor? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The Terpsichoria came under attack by pirates directed by what floating nation? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Who was it that discovered the book, wrongly placed in the Children's Section of the library, that gave Bellis an opportunity to travel? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Bellis had worked out that the book was written in High Kettai by a member of the Mosquito people. Why were they known as Mosquito people? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The Mosquito peoples author of the book, found in the library, was taken back to join the team of scientists and engineers. They were building a harness for a legendary beast, that they hoped to capture. What beast was it? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Bellis lived in the area called Garwater, which was ruled by a couple known as "The Lovers". What were their real names? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In the end The Lovers parted because one wanted to continue with the quest and the other wanted to return to the old ways. Which one went on alone, male or female?

Answer: (type either male or female)
Question 10 of 10
10. Bellis came to realise that she had been used by several people to their own ends and she had done some bad things under the mistaken belief that she was doing good. What happened to her right at the end of the story? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "The Scar" is written in sections. The first part follows linguist Bellis Coldwine, as she escapes her home in New Crobuzon. To get free passage on board the Terpsichoria, what new language does she learn?

Answer: Salkrikaltor Cray

Bellis spent the time waiting for the Terpsichoria to leave, learning the language. Her tutor was not a proper teacher; rather he was an elderly member of the Cray people, who told stories of his life.
2. Terpsichoria was heading for Nova Esperium, a newly started colony. Apart from several paying passengers, what made up the bulk of the ship's cargo?

Answer: Physically altered prisoners

Part of the punishment system of New Crobuzon included the re-making of those found guilty. This included, but was not limited to, adding additional limbs from differing species and replacement of body parts with mechanical alternatives.
3. Why did the Terpsichoria call at Salkrikaltor?

Answer: A platform drilling rig had disappeared

Bellis was told before she went to translate that she was a conduit only and not part of the discussions. She was not told of the problems in advance and pieced the story together after the meeting.

New Crobuzon owned three drilling platforms in Salkrikaltor waters, so paid rent to have them there. The newest and largest of these had disappeared. The Crays of Salkrikaltor had no idea what had happened to the rig.
4. The Terpsichoria came under attack by pirates directed by what floating nation?

Answer: Armada

The Terpsichoria was thought to be invulnerable to attack by pirates due to her size and speed. Nevertheless, the pirates overcame all obstacles in a well considered assault. The Captain and First officer were slain and the rest of those on board were interviewed, to see how they would best be fitted into the society of Armada.

When the ship's company made rendezvous with Armada, some were sent to prison for readjustment and the rest were set free. Offers of work, based on the interviews while on the Terpsichoria, were made. Bellis accepted a position in the library that included her own apartment and a good salary.

Tortuga is an island and therefore does not float. Both Atlantis and the Titanic sank. My attempt at humour!
5. Who was it that discovered the book, wrongly placed in the Children's Section of the library, that gave Bellis an opportunity to travel?

Answer: Shekel

Shekel had been the cabin boy on the Terpsichoria. He desperately wanted to learn, so that he could feel more at ease and to fit in with his more clever girlfriend. To that end, Bellis taught him to read in their mutual, original language and then in Salt, the common language. Shekel was fascinated to find that the same alphabet could be used in different ways and was always looking for new to him languages.

The book that Shekel took to Bellis was in a difficult and obscure language, High Kettai, which Bellis had written a book about. She took some time interpreting the book and discovering as much about it as she could before handing it over to the proper authorities. She came to realise that the book was only written about thirty years previously and not by the ancient originators of the language. Bellis was then taken as interpreter on the fact finding mission.
6. Bellis had worked out that the book was written in High Kettai by a member of the Mosquito people. Why were they known as Mosquito people?

Answer: The females were killers and the males intellectuals

The Mosquito people were not physically capable of spoken language.

In a very bloody part of their ancient history, the females of the species had killed many people, before the race was returned to their island home. Due to the intellectual capabilities of the males, the race was allowed to survive, but confined to the island. Contact with other races was kept to a bare minimum and only being allowed access to the written High Kettai language was part of that.

The males and females did not live together. Once a female had her fill of blood, she would have some lucid times when she could communicate and presumably mate, although not all habits and customs of the race were discussed.
7. The Mosquito peoples author of the book, found in the library, was taken back to join the team of scientists and engineers. They were building a harness for a legendary beast, that they hoped to capture. What beast was it?

Answer: Avanc

The Avanc was the beast of legend from another world. There was proof that attempts had been made in the past to raise the beast, but until the book translated by Bellis was found, the method could only be guessed at.

The Avanc was only a means to another end, though.
8. Bellis lived in the area called Garwater, which was ruled by a couple known as "The Lovers". What were their real names?

Answer: Nobody remembers

The Lovers ruled well, but their obsession over capturing and then harnessing the avanc and using it to drag Armada to "The Scar" nearly split their world apart. In the end it just split The Lovers apart.

"The Scar" of the title refers to a rip in the surface of the world. It also refers to the scarification of the faces and bodies of The Lovers.
9. In the end The Lovers parted because one wanted to continue with the quest and the other wanted to return to the old ways. Which one went on alone, male or female?

Answer: female

The Lovers had continued on their quest to find "The Scar" with great determination, but with gradually lessening support from the other rulers of Armada. Bellis was not the only one who worked against the quest. Eventually The Lovers were made to listen to the gainsayers. Just the female part of the pairing refused to give up on the quest and she set off alone.
10. Bellis came to realise that she had been used by several people to their own ends and she had done some bad things under the mistaken belief that she was doing good. What happened to her right at the end of the story?

Answer: She was to be returned to New Crobuzon

Bellis Coldwine was involved at every stage of this strange story, but was never party to every detail and that left her vulnerable to those who chose to use her. When she realised that her actions could cause danger to all on Armada, she confessed and her defence of not knowing the truth at the time of her actions was accepted. She was given the option of ten years in prison or a flogging. She was flogged.

Her only wish through the story was to return home. At the end, her wish was granted.
Source: Author zippolover

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. Last Train to Perdido Street Station Average
2. The City & The City Tough

3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us