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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. How long does Will wait to see if Fritz comes?

2. How does Will's master feel about humans?

3. What does the master do when he first brings Will into his home?

4. What picks up the groups of winners?

5. What are the buildings in the city shaped like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of tasks must Will do for his master?

2. What happens as soon as Will arrives at his master's house?

3. What happens when Will's master uses more as bubbles than usual? Why is Will worried?

4. How does Will learn more about the city and what does he see?

5. Why do Will and Fritz talk about how to get out of the city, what do they think is the best way and what concerns Will?

6. What do the athletes do when they first arrive in the city?

7. What is the place like where the female slaves go?

8. Why did Will have to pick his master up at work early?

9. What does Fritz tell Will he saw that indicated where the Tripods might live?

10. How does the first part of the competition go for the boys?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The City of Gold and Lead, the main hero is a male, as in a large percentage of novels. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think novels more often have a male hero than a female one?

2. Do you believe there are girls as capable (or more so) than Will or Fritz? Would the novel be as interesting to you if a girl were was one of the human spies? Why or why not.

3. Do you think females (in the real world) are just as likely and capable as males to be heroes? Why or why not.

4. Would you rather read a book with a male or female hero or do you have a preference. Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme?" If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme?" If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD? Which theme in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD is one book in a series of novels involving Will, Beanpole and the other characters. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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