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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Will told to curb in his personality?

2. What time did Ulf say they were leaving the village?

3. Where does the island man take the boys?

4. What do the boys decide to do?

5. How does the man on the island say he will pay the boys for work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the boys figure out by lunch time?

2. What does Will not want to do for the games and how did he get to White Mountain?

3. How did the boys sleep that night and how do they wake up?

4. What does Beanpole suggest might be a good way to get downriver?

5. What does Julius say about the plan for the boys?

6. How did Will and his friends learn about White Mountain?

7. Where do the boys end up when they get to shore? What is different about the man there and how does he feel about the boys being there?

8. Why do the boys want to win in their sporting event?

9. How do the boys implement Beanpole's idea?

10. How does Henry feel about missing out on the games?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Will left White Mountain to go to the games in hopes of entering the Tripod City he did so in order to find a way to fight the aliens. The two groups, Tripods and Humans are set up as evil and good. In a majority of fiction there are usually clear lines between "good and evil." Will runs into a small glitch in his good and evil thinking -- his Master decides to be friends and for the most part treats him well.

1. Although no true friendship can exist between a master and a slave -- the power distribution is too uneven, Will certainly fares better than Fritz. What do you think is meant by this statement? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think in any group of people all of the members are either evil or good? For example is it possible there are some good in the aliens? Why or why not?

3. Describe a situation in the 21st. Century that you think represents an alignment of Good on one side, and of Evil on the other.

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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