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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. After running away from Mrs. Coulter, Lyra wanders through London before stopping at a stall to buy what?

2. Mrs. Coulter is a member of

3. When Lyra is taken to a narrow boat captained by Ma Costa, the girl

4. What does Kaisa tell Lyra about Lord Asriel and Dust?

5. How does Lyra feel about Mrs. Coulter being her mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Lyra excited about leaving the college and going with Mrs. Coulter?

2. While Lyra travels on the narrow boat with the Gyptians, what type of work does she do for Ma Costa and the others?

3. Describe Lord Asriel's reaction when Lyra bolts out of the wardrobe in the Retiring Room.

4. Describe Lyra's encounter with a giant gray goose while she is on the deck of the ship looking at the Aurora.

5. What happens to the men who try to abduct Lyra after she and Pan run away from Mrs. Coulter? What happens to their daemons?

6. Describe some of the conversation that takes place at Mrs. Coulter's cocktail party.

7. In her hiding place in the Retiring Room, Lyra eventually falls asleep. What does Lord Asriel talk about with Lyra after he wakes her up?

8. Describe Lyra's and Lord Asriel's daemons.

9. What does Lyra learn about eating liver when she dines with Mrs. Coulter at the Royal Arctic Institute?

10. How does Mrs. Coulter react when Lyra first mentions Dust to her while making a comparison to electron particles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Lyra's biological mother, Mrs. Coulter, with her mother figure, Ma Costa. How does Lyra feel toward each woman? What motherly qualities does each have? What does Lyra learn from each woman? Which one would you say is the "true" mother? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Using examples from the book, explain how the author weaves the themes of power and betrayal into the story. What characters and episodes represent the misuse of power? How are people affected by this misuse? In each example, which characters try to rectify the situation? How? Do they succeed?

Essay Topic 3

1. Describe the primary characteristics of these groups of beings in Pullman's story: Gyptians, witches, Tartars, armored bears.

2. List the strengths and weaknesses of each group.

3. For each group, cite one instance in which a characteristic of the group benefits Lyra's cause.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 980 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample