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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How much time does George spend looking for Henry?
(a) Two years.
(b) Two weeks.
(c) Two months.
(d) Two days.

2. Who follows Rocky and Leo as they leave the garage?
(a) A cop.
(b) Bobby.
(c) None of the answers is correct.
(d) The milkman.

3. Why is George summoned from his meeting with Greer?
(a) Henry is waiting at his house.
(b) Davidson has died.
(c) Another poker game is beginning.
(d) All of the answers are correct.

4. What items got Gramma fired from her job?
(a) Pills.
(b) Coins.
(c) Religious statuary.
(d) Books.

5. What is Henry's original feeling toward Thorpe's Fornits story?
(a) He found it discomfiting.
(b) He found it humorous.
(c) He found it frightening.
(d) He found it ridiculous.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Nona turn into?

2. What does the narrator do to defend Nona?

3. What does Uncle Otto do to finance the purchase of the land?

4. What is the reason for the party in "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"?

5. Where is Richard Pine when he writes in his diary?

Short Essay Questions

1. "For Owen" seems oddly placed in this collection of stories. Why might King have placed a story about his young son in the midst of more savage and frightening ones?

2. What type of irony can be found within "Survivor Type"? Be sure to use examples from the text to support your theory.

3. The milkman in King's short stories is certainly not your ordinary milkman. He spreads death rather than cheer with wholesome milk. What about Spike makes his methods that much more unusual?

4. Rocky seems to be a bit of an intimidator himself. Though it is long past closing time, he coerces his friend into giving his car an inspection sticker. What do you think this says about Rocky?

5. "The Reaper's Image" is perhaps one of the creepiest tales in "Skeleton Crew." What aspect of this story make it particularly appropriate for a King collection?

6. Think about the setting of "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands." How does the setting of this story add to its scary feeling?

7. What is an example of a metaphor used in "Beachworld" and what comparison is it trying to convey?

8. Children are often frightened by elderly relatives. Everything about them seems foreign and frightening. Do you think George's fear of Gramma was instinctual or merely the usual fear a child has of older people?

9. What do you think the story "For Owen" is about?

10. What is an example of personification in the story "Beachworld"? How does it affect the story? Explain why you chose this example.

(see the answer keys)

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