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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 do the people in the camp view Richard?

2. How many air pockets did the two men encounter?

3. Where did Richard tell Christo Karl was?

4. What did Ol' Blue have to do to get out of the snare?

5. Who was waiting for Richard when he emerged from the cave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who argued on behalf of the rafters and what was the outcome? Why didn't Richard prevent this outcome?

2. What was the analogy Richard had made about the Gulf War?

3. Zeph and Sammy made several mistakes on their way to the commune. What were they? What was the biggest mistake the rafting group made?

4. What lie did Richard tell to Christo?

5. How was Richard making Sal's life difficult?

6. What had made Keaty feel really bad about the squid giving people food poisoning?

7. What was the pool a substitute for?

8. What plan was made in regards to Zeph and Sammy?

9. What did Richard find himself thinking about for the first time since his arrival on the beach?

10. How did Richard become comfortable regarding Mr. Duck's presence in the daylight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore Richards resentment of Bugs. What kinds of things specifically did Richard really have a problem with in regards to Bugs and his presence? Were these things intentionally done by Bugs, or were they the result of an unintentional affront? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the camp's reaction to Richard 'doing things' for Sal. How did people go out of their way to be nice to him and friendly with him? What likely prompted this sudden interest in Richard? What perspective does the reader take of Richard's association with Sal?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the beach and its descent from Paradise to Hell. What other descents are made throughout the book? Could these be considered some of the central themes of the book? How or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 948 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample