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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. Where did the Songserm ferry go to?

2. What did the lights of Koh Samui glow like?

3. How many glow stars were there on Richard's roof?

4. What color was the fish Etienne caught?

5. How many caves led into the seaward cliffs?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why didn't Richard stay where he was in the tidal cave?

2. How was it that Sal was the leader?

3. What made the map intricate?

4. Why did Richard consider himself pretty lucky?

5. What explanation did Richard offer for the shape of the island on which the Beach was located?

6. What had made Jed's day bad?

7. Why did Richard keep an open mind when it came to Jed?

8. What did Richard realize that he would have to do when he came to the cliffs and the waterfall? What did he imagine when he had looked at the waterfall and the pool beneath?

9. What was the purpose of the lashed together branches?

10. Why did Richard feel as though he was governed by someone else in retrospect?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether or not living in paradise for any length of time would taint the way a person would perceive paradise. Explain your answer citing the book, and explain the contradiction in Richard's arrival in Koh Phangan and his return to England.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Daffy's comment about 'living with Cancer". What do you think that comment was directed at, and why? What would Daffy consider to be cancer? How was he released from living with Cancer? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Richards more gory fantasies that occur throughout the book. What is this fascination with the violence in his own mind indicative of? Explain if this makes Richard a threat or an ally.

(see the answer keys)

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