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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 Joseph turn off once Rod leaves?

2. What does Rod notice on Joseph's lip?

3. What does the office environment mentioned in Chapter 11 resemble?

4. What instrument/equipment does Manfred speak into?

5. When Manfred gets home from gambling, whose room does he enter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Inspector begin to put together the real story of Jose's death?

2. Describe Rod's meeting with Herbert about the leak.

3. Why does Frank die in Chapter 6?

4. What does Johnny want from Rod?

5. Describe Rod and Joseph's interaction in Chapter 21.

6. How does Dan rescue Terry?

7. Why does Hurry hate the office he works in?

8. Describe Johnny.

9. Why does Terry go to the safe and what happens to her?

10. Describe Joseph M'Kati.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Power in society is a prevailing theme of "Gold Mine". Smith frequently refers to this theme, painting the picture of two worlds that are struggling for power and survival. How does power relate to having gold or wealth? Which characters appear honest and which appear corrupt and why? Which characters appear to rise above corruption even if they were initially vulnerable to it? What is your opinion of the society that Smith describes? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Smith discusses both sexuality in detail, contrasting single and married couples in "Gold Mine." Find some examples in the book and discuss the effect of these topics on the characters of Rod and Manfred.

Essay Topic 3

Describe some of the settings for this novel. What is the overall setting? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. How do these settings even if imaginary, reflect modern settings or culture? Why did the author choose to use these places in "Gold Mine"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 641 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample