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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 does Dirk do when a police officer is about to saw Richard's sofa in half?

2. In order to stop the alien ghost from preventing life from starting on Earth, Richard, Reg and Dirk travel forward to:

3. After Reg discusses the matter of getting the salt shaker into the old Greek pot, Dirk explains that:

4. Dirk figures out that the alien ghost wants to wipe out humanity and:

5. While Dirk, Reg, and Richard try to figure out what's behind all the strange recent events, who shows up at the gates of St. Cedd's carrying a large nylon bag?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how the book's opening scene is repeated near the end of the book, but with a twist.

2. Why has Michael brought scuba gear with him to Reg's time machine?

3. How does Dirk use the time machine to stop Michael from following the ghost's orders on primordial Earth?

4. How do Chapters 18 - 20 hint at characters being possessed by ghosts?

5. What happens when the Electric Monk believes that Sergeant Gilks is a god?

6. Why does Richard jump into a canal?

7. What does Michael reveal to drunken train travelers when he is possessed by an ancient alien ghost?

8. Why does Dirk purchase an easy to use phone with large red push-buttons for his detective agency?

9. Susan keeps getting phone calls where all she hears is a faint wind. What are these calls about?

10. How does Reg get the salt shaker into young Sarah's old Greek pot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Irony is a tool the author uses extensively in this book. List three instances where irony is used in situations involving one of the following characters:

Gordon, Richard, and Reg.

Essay Topic 2

Relationships in this story are complicated. Analyze the complexities and nuances of the following relationships:

1. Richard and Susan.

2. Dirk and Reg.

3. The Electric Monk and his horse.

Essay Topic 3

Susan Way, Gordon Way, and Richard MacDuff are intricately connected through their various roles. Explain the interconnections between these three characters. Why does Gordon try to use Susan to put pressure on Richard? How does Susan feel about Gordon pressuring her? What are Susan's expectations of Richard? What are Gordon's expectations of Richard? At times, how does Richard find himself caught in the middle between Gordon's and Susan's demands? How do Susan and Richard resolve their issues by the end of the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,046 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample