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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. Why does Jace dismiss what Clary is looking at in the apartment?

2. What do Blackwell and Panghorn ask?

3. What does Clary's mother do when she gets home that night?

4. What does Clary notice in Madame's Dorothea's apartment?

5. Who do the Forsaken obey?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Jace and Clary leave Dorothea's apartment and where do they go?

2. Who arrive at Luke's apartment and what do they discuss with Luke?

3. What do Clary's neighbor say about noises?

4. Why is Simon at Luke's house and what has he seen?

5. Who does Clary notice following the girl and the blue-haired boy and what is disturbing about one of the boys?

6. What does Clary after looking around the room for a minute?

7. What does Hodge tell Clary about the peace accord sixteen years ago?

8. Who do both Clary and the blue-haired boy notice and where does the person go?

9. What does Clary do when she sees the situation with the girl and the three boys?

10. What does Dorothea discover in Jace and Clary's tea leaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "City of Bones" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or technology that is not a part of the "real" world. In the case of "City of Bones", there is a great deal of new magical terms and familiar words with new meanings. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of "City of Bones" that are a part of the language but mean something different. Define the words as used in "City of Bones" and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

2. How does the language of "City of Bones" from that of real world New York? Are there words you did not know in the book? What? How do you learn their meanings? What does it mean to grasp a the meaning of a word through its context? Can you do that in "City of Bones"? Give an example of several words whose definition are made clear through the context of how the word is used.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of "City of Bones" through its vocabulary. Did you have to look up any words?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from "City of Bones"? Which ones? Why?

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 "City of Bones" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why this book 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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