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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. The inscriptions on the columns were inspired by which of the following?

2. Everything in the room faces which of the following?

3. What was installed to appease the spirits of the dead?

4. What item was located directly behind the altar?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Carson's names for items #8, 9, & 10?

2. What were the "columns" discussed by scientists? What were they really? Where would they normally be found?

3. Upon seeing this fantastic discovery, Carson had hopes of finding what?

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

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

6. Carson referred to these locations in the story but what were they really?

7. Who did Carson often talk to during the long days at the site?

8. What did Carson do one day while eating his lunch?

9. Name two pieces of jewelry worn by Harriet. What were their real uses?

10. What happened right after the catastrophe?

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

Howard Carson is painted as a ne'er do well in the beginning of the book. How did Carson make a living? What was the man's level of ambition? Why did Carson decide it was time to change his life? How did he propose to make changes? Were those goals accomplished? Did the effort to change cause Carson to land at the Motel of the Mysteries? How did Carson handle the discovery of the motel? Did Carson see the discovery as his destiny? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Many of the artifacts in the Motel are linked by Carson and the workers to some form of religious ceremony. What would cause the workers to make those assumptions? What else could be related to the artifacts in lieu of religion? What religious artifacts do you think were used in society during Carson's time? Are religious artifacts more important as symbols of religion or are they more important as historical items? Also, how could Carson know which gods were associated each sacred item found in the hotel? Would you relate those things to the same gods? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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