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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 Edgar Spengler holding when he approaches Brian?

2. Why did Rolph never tell Edgar what he knew about the Egress Spout?

3. How does one of the Monitors subtly threaten Brian when they are talking in Dining?

4. Why does Rolph not worry that Edgar will read his letter?

5. From Amy's letter, what does she believe about Brian's conversation with the Monitor supervisors?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Brian realizes that there are no Visitors coming, what people does he think about, and what does he realize about them?

2. What does Mr. Regis say during the funeral for the workers who have been killed?

3. What does Rolph suggest are some possible reasons for their community being put underground?

4. Why do the people in Brian's community find it essential to believe that Visitors will arrive any day?

5. What important information does Brian learn from Rolph's letter?

6. Describe how the bodies of dead workers are disposed of.

7. When Brian goes to look for Amy in Dining, what does he think when he sees Jim, and why?

8. After the funeral, what conflicting feelings does Brian have about his relationship with Amy and Law 6?

9. What puzzles Brian about the air, water, electricity, and food that they use in the underground community?

10. What causes Brian to realize that he is in love with Amy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay in which you explore the idea of "today" that Brian is trying to communicate on pages 25 and 33, and how it relates to the idea of hope. Support your claims with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Consider this quote from page 27:

Honestly, I am filled with hope. What new life might we begin, free of the bothersome prospect of being Visited? Dedicated to some new task, some fresh way of being? Who might we become, sans roles, free to redecorate and un-theme this spacious home of ours? What might come to interest us? Toward what might we redirect our considerable, until now misspent, energy?

Write an essay in which you consider how this quote characterizes Brian, given the information he has already shared about the "Slough." Use textual evidence to support your assertions.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you explore the layers of meaning in Saunders' use of an amusement park as a setting for "Ghoul." Offer evidence from the text to support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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