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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 much food does the group have when Malorie arrives?

2. Where were incidents of "The Problem" first reported?

3. How many months pregnant is Malorie when Tom and Jules first leave the house?

4. Why does Tom go looking for dogs?

5. Why are the lights in the house on?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Malorie's physical appearance?

2. Who joins Tom on his excursion out of the house?

3. Where and with whom does Malorie live at the beginning of the novel?

4. For how long does Tom plan to be away from the house?

5. Who are the characters living in the safe house when Malorie arrives?

6. Why are the housemates afraid to drink the water fetched by Felix?

7. How does Shannon die?

8. What does Malorie do in the cellar to distract herself from Tom's absence?

9. Where are Malorie and Shannon's parents?

10. Where is the safe house, which Malorie discovers in a newspaper located?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Malerman writes in Gary's notebook that "Man is the creature he fears." Write an essay in which you respond to this notion, taking as evidence the behavior of the novel's characters. Cite passages to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

The story is told in the third person, but primarily from Malorie's perspective. Analyze the author’s choice to tell the story from Malorie's point of view. What unique perspective does Malorie have on the circumstances affecting the other characters in the novel? How does viewing the events from Malorie's point of view affect the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Malorie experiences both physical and emotional changes throughout the novel. In what ways does Malorie change and in what ways does she remain the same? How do these changes reflect any major themes of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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