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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. How does Theo's parenting of his daughters change after their mother dies?

2. Which of the following adjectives best describes the Marburg sisters when they were growing up?

3. Where did Alec Carrière find most of the items in his massive collection?

4. How does Dr. Grant hear about the need at Grosse Isle?

5. Which element is most important to the Marburg sisters' seance?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Jemmy Button a year after arriving in England?

2. What scientific breakthrough does Carrière make in the biologic world?

3. How did Wallace and Carrière meet?

4. What school subject do the Marburg sisters excel in, and how does this shape their adulthood?

5. What becomes of Carrière's scientific breakthrough, and how does this end result compare to his hopes?

6. How do Bianca and Rose spend their evening in August, 1980 when Bianca visits Rose's laboratory?

7. Who started the winery in "The Marburg Sisters" and who runs it at the time of the story's setting?

8. Why does Joel often feel that his attention must be divided, between Zaga and someone else?

9. What notes does Laughlin make about disease and quarantine while he is working at Grosse Isle?

10. In the opening pages of "Soroche" what does the reader learn about Zaga's character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Littoral Zone" is a true scientific term used to describe a particular area of nature. First, give the scientific definition of the littoral zone and explain how this definition fits into the plot of the story. Then, describe the symbolic meaning behind the term. How does its symbolism relate back to the story's themes of immersion and exposure? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In the story "Rare Bird" there are two differing theories about where and how swallows overwinter. First, present the two differing scientific views about the bird behavior, and then discuss at least two experiments performed to prove these theories true or false. In the end, what conclusion did the scientists come to about the bird behavior? What impact did this conclusion have? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

How did the parenting style in "The Marburg Sisters" affect the upbringing of Rose and Bianca? How did their father's involvement with the winery affect the girls' childhood? How did the Marburg sisters stay in touch with their parents even after their deaths? What message do you think Barrett is sending to her readers about parenthood through this story? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

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