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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 does Adam say is scientifically impossible?

2. What do dolphins not do alone?

3. Where do Zachary and Vicky have dinner?

4. What is Vicky's father planning to do this summer?

5. What is Vicky's grandfather officiating?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Leo come to Vicky's house late in the evening to say?

2. How is Vicky's grandfather when she returns from working with the dolphins with Adam?

3. Where does Vicky go with Zachary and to what does she compare the experience?

4. About what does John wonder when he spies Zachary and how does Vicky react to John's statement?

5. What does Vicky find that makes her feel better when she gets home from her date from Zachary?

6. What do Vicky and Adam talk about over breakfast?

7. What do Vicky's parents thank her for concerning Grandfather, and what do they encourage her to do?

8. What difficult request does Grandfather ask of Vicky and what is her reaction?

9. What happens as Vicky is holding Robin?

10. What does Adam ask Vicky to do with Basil, and what happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. What is foreshadowing? What incidences of foreshadowing are in "A Ring of Endless Light"? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in "A Ring of Endless Light" including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from the text of this story, and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of how Commander Rodney dies of a heart attack while rescuing a young man who is trying to commit suicide. What other situations contain irony in "A Ring of Endless Light"?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from "A Ring of Endless Light". What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "A Ring of Endless Light" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "A Ring of Endless Light" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why this story is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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