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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 infirmity does the stranger waiting in Kira's room after the singing of the Ruin song have?

2. Who walks through a storm to visit Kira?

3. What does Jamison recite for Kira in Chapter 18?

4. Where does Kira want Thomas to accompany her in Chapter 15?

5. Where does Kira's friend Marlena work?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Kira's father still alive?

2. What do the Ruin song and the Singer's robe reveal about the history of Kira's world?

3. How does Kira react when Jamison refuses to allow her to watch over Annabella's body in the Field of Leaving?

4. How are Kira, Thomas, and Jo treated during the Gathering ceremony?

5. What is Jamison's role in the attack on Christopher?

6. How have the words of the Ruin song been distorted over time?

7. Who is the blind man and what is his significance in the story?

8. What does Kira find suspicious about Jo's situation, and why?

9. How does Kira spend her rainy day in Chapter 12?

10. How does Thomas demonstrate his mischievous side and surprise Kira in Chapter 15?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the cycles evident in the novel. Is the purpose of the Singer's robe to predict cycles, prevent cycles, or break cycles, and why? If the robe, staff, and Ruin Song are unable to break the cycle that destroys societies, what will?

Essay Topic 2

What value is placed on human life in Kira's society? How does the attitude prevalent towards the value of life affect education, employment, family life, and the development of society? How might this attitude affect the future survival of Kira's people?

Essay Topic 3

What role do the "beasts" play in the novel? What is the purpose of the legend of the beasts and why is the myth perpetuated? Who is the real "beast" and why?

(see the answer keys)

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