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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. Who went on a quest and disappeared 400 years later?

2. What originally concealed the item and kept it from view?

3. What magazine does this character often reference?

4. The continent was covered by what color stripes?

5. Carson realizes that he is directly in front of what type of structure?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the Sacred Headband. What is the inscription on it?

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

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

4. Why was #9 proportioned in a specific way?

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

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

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

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

9. How did Carson spend most of his time?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several people mentioned early in the text regarding the search for antiquities. They include Guido Michelin, Currant Bunliffe, and Howard Carson. Compare and contrast the three characters in reference to their personal and professional interests as well as their discoveries surround the ancient culture of Usa.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 604 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample