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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 Etienne see during his walk?

2. Where does Chaval go when the miners strike?

3. Why is Bonnemort delaying his retirement?

4. Why does Chaval almost instantly dislike Etienne?

5. Why is the innkeeper friendly with Etienne?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the company seem after the killing of the miners by the soldiers and what does it say?

2. What is the Advantage and what happens there?

3. On pay day in October what angers the miners and what do they do about it?

4. Where does Etienne move in August and why?

5. How do the miners feel about Etienne Lantier and what do they do about it?

6. What do the Montsou miners do while the miners are working at the Jean-Bart mine?

7. What happens in the mine in November and what was the consequences?

8. Who is Denneulin and what does he want from Léon Grégoire?

9. What happens at the mine when the Borains arrive to work?

10. What is the social scene like in the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The army is now occupying Montsou, which means that the miners are powerless, a situation which fuels even more ambivalent anger.

1. How do you think powerlessness engenders anger?

2. What are alternatives to anger to deal with powerlessness?

3. Do you believe the anger seen in some civil rights groups in the 1960s in America stemmed from feeling powerless? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Pluchart, Lantier's friend and the director of the International for the district, represents the unions and their self-serving attitude.

1. How does the behavior of the union support this statement?

2. Do you think the miners would have been better off if the union had never become involved in their lives? Why or Why not?

3. Do you think unions have a function in today's work world in consideration of all the labor laws? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The triumphs of collectivism are short lived and their assurance follows the path of their deteriorating conditions of living.

1. Why and how do you think the triumphant collectivism of the miners being focused together deteriorated?

2. How do you think the focused collectivism of an organized body, such as an army, can remain stable as opposed to the miners?

3. Do you think organization and strong leadership are always necessary in order for a group to work together?

Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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