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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. It became a popular tradition to do what to the monument?

2. Carson is surprised to find that the ________ is intact.

3. How many pairs of shoes are there in the room?

4. What is another name used for the bathroom faucets?

5. Who is the person credited with finding the specific location?

Short Essay Questions

1. When did the excavation begin? How long did it last? Who helped?

2. When was there an interest rekindled in North America? Why?

3. What was Carson's reaction when he realized what he had found?

4. What did German scholar Heinrich von Hooligan discover? What was the alleged purpose of the items(s)?

5. How is Howard Carson's life described before the discovery of the Motel of the Mysteries?

6. What was the result? How long did it take?

7. The item(s) were eventually classified as being what?

8. What is the Sacred Parchment? What is its use?

9. How does Carson refer to the faucets? Where are they located?

10. Explain Carson's nightmare experienced shortly after the start of the excavation.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The excavators and workers in the story seem to have many ideas regarding the dead, from the body's eventual destination to the storage of internal organs. Examine the text to learn about the modern civilization's ideas about the ancient dead. Do any of the ideas seem feasible? Why do you think cultures are so fascinated with burial? Compare and contrast current options for burial to those of ancient times, e.g., Egyptians.

Essay Topic 2

The author makes a solid point regarding pollution and the state of the ozone layer. As a result of decades of polluting the air and not caring about the ozone, it was only a matter of time before Pollutantus Gravitas would fall to the earth and smother out the Yank civilization. Compare and contrast the condition of pollution and the ozone layer from 1985 and today. What are the most significant changes? Were there any parts of the story that could be even remotely correct? Explain. How has pollution changed over the years? In your opinion, does pollution have anything to do with global warming?

Essay Topic 3

Great care must be taken when excavating a site like the one at the Motel of the Mysteries. Explain in detail the tools and processes used by archeologists. How do the archeologists know when to use a specific tool? Is all of the work done by hand? Is it all tedious and painstaking? What is the most desired artifact in the eyes of a typical archeologist? What is the most difficult part of the job? What is the biggest reward?

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