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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. What do Kin and Silver conclude about the raven?

2. How does Kin encounter the winged demon?

3. The demon claims that is was knocked out of the sky by _________.

4. What do the explorers hope to find at the center of the planet?

5. When they land on an island after leaving the sailor's people, what does Kin attempt to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are the explorers greeted when they reach the sailors' homeland?

2. Describe the creature put into the cell next to Kin. What does the group eventually learn and speculate about it?

3. What does the group discover at the ship's crash-site?

4. What is unusual about the first island that Kin and the others come to after leaving the sailors' homeland? What danger does the group face there?

5. How is the dumbwaiter destroyed?

6. Why is Kin arrested?

7. What are the man on the flying carpet's real motivations?

8. What does the group do with the winged demon?

9. Whom do Kin and the others meet in the desert? What is the result of this meeting?

10. What is Marco's plan, and what do Kin and Silver think about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, the author presents several persons, places, or things that are intended to be direct references to historic or mythical analogues. Many of these references are humorous, but some are intended to provide foreshadowing or other dramatic elements. Research a number of these references for this essay.

Part 1) Explain as many examples of these references as possible. Include a description of the historical or mythical analogue and explain why the person, place, or thing in the book is intentionally constructed to reference it.

Part 2) What purpose do most of these references serve in the novel? Use examples from the book of how these references effect the story.

Part 3) Critically assess whether the use of these references is effective or if it is unnecessary or distracting to the main story.

Essay Topic 2

There are many alien races presented in the book, and sometimes their differences are very important to the storyline.

Part 1) Enumerate the various alien races presented in the book, and describe their important characteristics.

Part 2) How do the historical races affect the story?

Part 3) How do the characteristics of the living races affect the story? Provide examples of times when non-human characters were driven more by their racial tendencies than their unique personalities.

Part 4) How and when do these characters overcome their predispositions for the better of themselves and those around them?

Essay Topic 3

There are many examples of characters attempting and succeeding in taking revenge in this novel. It is a major theme that causes important changes within characters and drives the plot forward at important points.

Part 1) Which characters attempt or succeed in taking revenge in the novel? What are their motivations? Are they justified in their intentions?

Part 2) How do these actions affect and change these characters? Do they come to regret their actions?

Part 3) What can be said about the overall impact of the desire for revenge in the novel? In general, is it helpful or destructive? If one or more cases are exceptions to this general rule, explain their nature and importance.

(see the answer keys)

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