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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 the dead child's name?

2. Why does this hijacking scare Miro?

3. When Miro hears this sound, he knows that the government has discovered their location.

4. On what continent does the beginning of the novel take place?

5. Despite Kate's objections, what does Artkin give the children?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben remember about the morning of the hijacking?

2. What does Kate discover about Miro?

3. How do events begin to take a turn for the worse?

4. What does Kate hope for when she hears the helicopters overhead?

5. Why is Miro excited for this day?

6. What was the General in charge of while he worked at Forte Delta?

7. When Artkin summons Miro, what does he tell him about?

8. Why did the author choose to pick the 1970s for the setting of the novel?

9. Why doesn't Raymond fall asleep?

10. What does the reader realize as the narration of the novel continues?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A little over half way through the novel, the reader is surprised when the narrator changes.

How does the change in narrator create a different tone and feeling in the novel?

Why do you think Cormier chose to change the narrator.

Essay Topic 2

Cruelty is another major theme in the novel. How do the following characters, act cruelly towards another human being?

- Miro

- Artkin

- The General

- Kate

Essay Topic 3

Examine the ending of the novel and then discuss how the ending of the novel tragic and unfair.

What is an alternate ending you would have liked to see for the story?

(see the answer keys)

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