Spiral by Bal Khabra: 20-Question Quiz

Test your knowledge of Bal Khabra's Spiral with this 20-question quiz. From the charity auction to the Stanley Cup final, see how well you remember the story of Elias and Sage. Answers are at the bottom. For more insights, check the book overview, questions and answers, and the ending explained.

Quiz Questions

Plot & Sequence (Questions 1–8)

How did Sage and Elias first meet?

A) At a ballet performance
B) At a charity auction
C) At a hockey game
D) At a coffee shop

Why did Sage agree to bid on Elias at the auction?

A) She was a fan of his hockey team
B) Aiden asked her to outbid Lana, and her brother is a Crawford fan
C) She wanted to embarrass him
D) She was paid by a tabloid

What event led Elias to publicly call Sage his girlfriend?

A) A tabloid article
B) A press conference where a reporter mentioned her parents' legal troubles
C) A social media post
D) A team meeting

Why did Elias decide to remain celibate?

A) He had taken a vow for religious reasons
B) He was blackmailed with compromising photos by his biological father
C) He was waiting for marriage
D) He had a medical condition

What happened to Sage's apartment that forced her to stay with Elias?

A) A fire caused by a forgotten candle
B) A flood from a broken pipe
C) A break-in
D) An eviction notice

Who won the Stanley Cup final?

A) Toronto Thunder
B) Vancouver
C) It was cancelled
D) It went to overtime and Toronto won

After the Stanley Cup loss, what did Elias and Sage do?

A) They broke up
B) They reconciled and confessed their love
C) They moved to different cities
D) They started a business together

In the epilogue, what significant event occurs?

A) Sage and Elias adopt Nina
B) They move to Connecticut
C) Sean becomes a professional hockey player
D) They open a ballet studio

Character Motivation (Questions 9–13)

Why did Sage propose a fake relationship with Elias?

A) To gain fame and followers for her ballet career
B) To make her ex-boyfriend jealous
C) To get free hockey tickets
D) To help Elias avoid a trade

Why did Elias initially refuse the fake relationship?

A) He didn't want to lie
B) He thought she was a gold digger
C) He was afraid of commitment
D) He had a girlfriend

What inspired Sage's dream of dancing Swan Lake?

A) Her mother
B) Misty Copeland
C) Her uncle
D) A teacher

Why did Marcus Smith-Beaumont threaten Elias?

A) Because Elias was dating his niece without permission
B) Because Elias was not scoring enough
C) Because Elias was blackmailing him
D) Because Elias was a bad influence

What prompted Elias to finally stop sending money to his biological father?

A) Sage's encouragement
B) His father's death
C) A legal settlement
D) His parents' intervention

Theme & Symbol (Questions 14–17)

What does the skipping stone symbolize in the story?

A) Their first date
B) Trust and vulnerability
C) Her ballet career
D) His hockey success

Peonies appear throughout the book. What do they represent?

A) Love and commitment
B) Friendship
C) Ambition
D) Sacrifice

Elias's tattoo of a sage plant is a symbol of what?

A) His love for Sage
B) His hockey team
C) His biological father
D) His freedom

The swan in Swan Lake is a symbol of what for Sage?

A) Transformation and self-acceptance
B) Sacrifice
C) Competition
D) Fame

Synthesis (Questions 18–20)

Compare the themes of media scrutiny and personal identity. How do Elias and Sage both struggle with public perception? (Short answer)
How does the fake relationship evolve into a real one? Name one key moment that signals this change. (Short answer)
Discuss the role of family in the story. How do both Elias and Sage's family backgrounds shape their actions? (Short answer)

Answer Key

1. B – Sage and Elias first meet at the charity auction where she bids on him.

2. B – Aiden asks Sage to outbid Lana, and her little brother is a Crawford fan.

3. B – At a press conference, a reporter brings up Sage's parents' legal troubles, and Elias impulsively declares she is his girlfriend.

4. B – Elias was blackmailed with compromising photos by his biological father, leading him to avoid intimacy.

5. A – A forgotten magnolia candle causes a fire in Sage's apartment.

6. B – Vancouver wins the Stanley Cup final.

7. B – They reconcile and confess their love in the corridor after the loss.

8. A – In the epilogue, Sage and Elias adopt Nina, an eleven-year-old girl.

9. A – Sage proposes the fake relationship to stop media scrutiny of Elias and to gain a following for her ballet career.

10. A – Elias refuses because he doesn't want to lie; he later agrees when he sees it as a way to protect Sage.

11. B – Sage's dream is inspired by Misty Copeland.

12. A – Marcus threatens Elias because he doesn't want Elias to hurt Sage and believes Elias isn't good enough for her.

13. A – Sage encourages Elias to stop sending money, and he agrees to consider it.

14. B – The skipping stone represents trust and vulnerability, as Elias teaches Sage to skip rocks and they open up to each other.

15. A – Peonies symbolize love and commitment; Elias gives them to Sage, and a pink peony lands at center stage during her performance.

16. A – Elias gets a tattoo of a sage plant as a declaration of love for Sage.

17. A – The swan represents transformation and self-acceptance, as Sage sheds Odile to become her true self.

18. Both are judged by their public image—Elias as a playboy, Sage as a social media influencer—and they learn to define themselves beyond that.

19. They break rules, share vulnerabilities, and eventually confess love; for example, Elias's tattoo or Sage's love confession.

20. Elias's adoption and blackmail, and Sage's parents' abandonment and her responsibility for Sean, shape their actions; they both find a new family in each other.