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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the identity of the deformed skeleton?
(a) Dr. Cavalierei.
(b) It is never identified.
(c) Greg Kawakita.
(d) Simon Brambell.

2. What is the name of New York City's assistant medical examiner?
(a) Louie Padelsky.
(b) Olivia Meriam.
(c) Whitney Cadwalader Frock.
(d) Margo Green.

3. Where does Smithbeck's informant ask to meet him?
(a) A Penn Station bathroom.
(b) In a coffee shop.
(c) The airport baggage claim area.
(d) The police station.

4. Which character had a crush on Smithback?
(a) Ginny.
(b) Arnold.
(c) Margo.
(d) Miriam.

5. What is Snow preparing to do at the opening of Chapter 1?
(a) Dive.
(b) Drive.
(c) Sing.
(d) Smoke.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Pendergast say is the largest inhabited region on earth that remains unmapped?

2. What coats the staircase down to the lower level of the tunnels?

3. In what year was Linnaeus Hall constructed?

4. Where did Pamela expect to begin working?

5. On what item does D'Agosta strike a match in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think people of so many disciplines are called in to examine the two skeletons found in the river?

2. How might Margo's expertise in ethnopharmacology be an example of foreshadowing?

3. What does Pendergast reveal about Hayward? How does Hayward feel about this revelation? How does D'Agosta feel about this revelation?

4. When Mephisto gives Smithback the nickname "scriblerian," what does he imply?

5. In Chapter 8, an unknown person develops extra sensitive senses, apparently by ingesting some unknown drug. What do you think is the purpose of this character's in-depth description and failing to tell the reader who he is?

6. Why is there so much excitement surrounding the second skeleton found in the polluted Cloaca?

7. Why does Hayward say the tunnels are dangerous? Cite examples from the text.

8. What are the repercussions of the $100,000 reward posted by Bill Smithback and the Post?

9. What is the basic precept of Frock's theory of fractal evolution? How would it apply to the events taking place in the story?

10. What about the Museum of Natural History makes its atmosphere àpropos to a book of this genre?

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