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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. Who teaches the dogs commands?

2. How does Tom mark their lawn before leaving?

3. What pivotal event happens on Chapter 26?

4. What do the housemates do to Gary as punishment?

5. What does Gary believe about the creatures?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tom find in the master bedroom of the house he enters?

2. What is the last item that Tom brings out of his bag in Chapter 37?

3. What do Malorie and her sister look for in the clouds in Malorie's memory?

4. What does the new entrant in Chapter 27 say happened as his previous house?

5. What object belonging to one of the housemates does Malorie steal?

6. What do the housemates decide to do with Gary?

7. How do Tom and Jules propose to walk during their next trip outside of the house?

8. What body part does Tom believe he has found in a bowl on the table of a vacant house.

9. What special type of food does Tom bring back in Chapter 37?

10. What does the new entrant bring with him to the new house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing the role that gender plays among the housemates. Are any of the housemates sexist in their thinking and behavior? How does the author use this to make claims about gender in the novel? Use evidence from the text to support your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Malerman uses vivid descriptions of physical injury and violence in many different contexts, with many different victims. Choose two depictions of physical injury or violence from different portions of the book. Explain each scene with respect to who finds the victim, how the injury is described, and the the effect on the character who finds the victim.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of animals, both wild and domestic, featured in the novel. Write an essay explaining the significance of these animals. Are animals a universal symbol for either good or evil? Use evidence from the text to support your claim.

(see the answer keys)

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