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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. When Faa and Coram speak to Lyra, why is she frightened at first?

2. On the side of the golden compass, what does Lyra find?

3. While learning about electrons, Lyra tells Mrs. Coulter that these particles are

4. In Chapter 8, when Lyra sees airships in the sky, she knows that

5. Who had served as Lyra's nurse and caregiver when she was a young child?

Short Essay Questions

1. On the narrow boat, how do the Gyptians keep Lyra safe from the searching police?

2. In Chapter 3, children of the region are going missing. What is happening to them?

3. Describe Lyra's attempts to read the alethiometer in Chapter 9, particularly regarding Mr. de Ruyter, head of espionage.

4. How does Lord Asriel convey power, one of the book's central themes?

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

6. What is the Retiring Room?

7. Describe the games Lyra plays with her friend Roger.

8. After the Scholars enter the Retiring Room, what does Lyra overhear while she remains hidden in the wardrobe?

9. Summarize the story Farder Coram tells about his encounter 40 years ago with a Lapland witch.

10. While Lyra and Roger explore underground passages at Jordan College, they enter a crypt. What do they find there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A child's daemon changes while an adult's daemon has settled on a form.

1. Discuss the need to have a child's daemon remain changeable. Why is this important? How does this changeability benefit a child?

2. Discuss the pros and cons of having a daemon eventually take on one form exclusively.

3. Choose three adults' daemons and explain how each daemon complements and completes the person.

Essay Topic 2

The issue of trust is constantly put to the test in The Golden Compass. Show how Lyra makes decisions regarding whom to trust and whom to be wary of. On what basis does she make these decisions? How accurate is she? Support your argument with examples.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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