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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 the narrator say about Ambrose’s father’s physical looks?

2. What does Ambrose think is different about himself from others?

3. What sudden thought scares Ambrose when he calls out to a person he hears walking in the funhouse after Ambrose is lost?

4. What does Magda pretend to ignore at the swimming pool?

5. How does Peter get into the swimming pool?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ambrose think about when he is in the mirror room of the Funhouse, and what does Ambrose hear?

2. What does Peter do after giving up on his and his Uncle Karl’s play at the pool?

3. What is done in Ocean City because of U-boats and how is it done?

4. How does Ambrose know Magda and Peter have exited the Funhouse?

5. How does Ambrose feel about Magda and what is he afraid to do about it?

6. Who does Ambrose see in the Funhouse when he is wandering and what is that person doing?

7. What does Ambrose imagine about his son and what he might say to the boy?

8. What are Peter and Magda doing while Ambrose is in the Funhouse?

9. What gives Ambrose hope that he will find the exit to the Funhouse?

10. What does Ambrose’s mother give the three teenagers when they reach the boardwalk, and what does she say to them and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lost in the Funhouse belongs to the short story genre. Define the literary term "genre" and name three other genres in addition to the short story genre. What are the advantages and disadvantages of assigning a genre to literature? What is the difference between a short story and a novel or a play?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all short stories.

Compare/contrast the characters of Ambrose and Peter. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Be specific and give examples. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

Essay Topic 3

During the trip to Ocean City, Ambrose’s family plays car games. A traditional game is being the first to see the Towers. Ambrose, at four, realized how to win this game every time.

Discuss what understanding how to win a game at the age of four says about Ambrose as a person and what this illustrates about his intellect. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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