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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. In Chapter Six, who does Will think is the guy from the Dark Suns who had stopped Shawn?

2. What does the guy who get onto the elevator do in Chapter Four?

3. What does Will do out of fear with the gun to his head in Chapter Five?

4. Why does Will stop himself from crying when he sees his dad in Chapter Five?

5. What happens to the smoke when the elevator door opens in Chapter Four?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Chapter Six, why was Shawn upset as he tells to Buck? What does Buck do to comfort him?

2. In Chapter Four, what does Will remember when he realizes the guy who gets onto the elevator is Uncle Mark?

3. How had Shawn learned what had happened to Buck as told in Chapter Six? Why was the person who told Shawn not considered a snitch?

4. Who is Frick as said in Chapter Six? How is Frick described?

5. How does Will’s dad feel after he shoots the guy in Chapter Five? Who does Will’s dad find out he actually shoots?

6. Why does Frick try to rob Buck as told in Chapter Six? Why do other people not try to rob Buck?

7. According to Chapter Six, what had happened when Frick tried to rob Buck? How had Shawn learned what had happened?

8. What does Uncle Mark ask Will after Will finishes the scene in Chapter Four? What does Uncle Mark say in reply to Will’s response?

9. Who finishes the scene for Will in Chapter Four? What does Will feel when he echoes the ending?

10. Who gets on the elevator in Chapter Five? What do the new person and Will do? How does Will feel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Will's mother has eczema, and scratches at herself to soothe the itch.Will in the first Chapter wonders if everyone is being eaten alive by something invisible, like her eczema (26). What does he mean by this? How is this idea shown or expanded later in the novel? Why is it continually used? Use at least three textual examples to explore this topic.

Essay Topic 2

Long Way Down takes place in a very structured format in an elevator, with physical layout representations of the elevator as well as each chapter taking place on a different floor. How and why is this metaphor used? What does it mean for the structure of the novel? What does this metaphor mean for the events that take place? Specifically, look at Chapter Seven and the language around an elevator that is used. Does the meaning of an elevator change throughout the novel? Write an exploratory paper with at least four textual examples.

Essay Topic 3

The Rules are the center of the novel's events, driving Will's actions as well as the actions of generations before him. Will says repeatedly, "The Rules are the rules," implying that they can not be changed. Why is this the case? Why has Will, and others, accepted The Rules so readily? What have The Rules done for the community? And finally, does the novel show that The Rules are The Rules, or does it show something different? Use four textual examples to support your paper.

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