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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 Jace doing as Simon is trying to declare his love for her?

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

3. How long ago did Valentine supposedly die?

4. What does Clary notice about the blue-haired boy?

5. Who does Jace land on when he jumps the fence?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Clary run home frantically?

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

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

4. How does Jace react to Madame Dorothea and how does Clary defend her?

5. What does Clary find when she goes inside her apartment?

6. What does the bouncer ask the blue-haired boy and what does the bouncer decide?

7. Where do Clary and Simon go and who do they see in line in front of them?

8. What does Clary's mom want her to do and how does she respond?

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

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

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Cassandra Clare.

2. What in Clare's background may have helped her in writing "City of Bones"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

"City of Bones" belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fantasy genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a fantasy and a historical novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "City of Bones".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of this story. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "City of Bones". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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