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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 many competitors will go to the games?

2. Who did Will have to kill while he, Henry, and Beanpole were traveling?

3. What is different about the two men who will get the competitors to the games?

4. Where do the two boys spend the night the first night after they leave the village?

5. What does being hungry make the boys do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the person the boys see do and what do they ask him?

2. What happens to Will when he is arrested?

3. Where does Will go to look for Ulf and what does he buy there?

4. What kind of swimmer is Will and how does Beanpole help him?

5. How did the boys sleep that night and how do they wake up?

6. What does Beanpole think might have happened because the barge was gone?

7. How does Will treat Fritz and how does Fritz respond? How does Will feel about Fritz's response?

8. What does the man say when he answers the boys' question?

9. What does Beanpole convince Moritz to do?

10. How do the boys end up in the river?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Will discovers that the atmosphere is difficult for humans and the air completely incompatible with human life. This causes humans to suffer and age quickly, making them unable to survive inside the city for very long, which might suggest why no one has ever come out of the Tripod cities. It also does not bode well for Will and Fritz who have just become slaves to alien Masters.

1. Slavery has been in existence since the earliest records of humans. Discuss the disadvantages of slavery to a society and to a culture as a whole.

2. Discuss the advantages of slavery to those in power and (possibly will need research) why slavery became a part of human civilizations.

3. Discuss the symbolism between the air the Tripods breath being incompatible with human life and the fact that the Tripods' presence on earth have created a world of slaves who are under absolute control. Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

Essay Topic 2

THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on an essentially, happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Will is no exception. His determination and survival powers might contrast to his immaturity and temper. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Will demonstrates his determination. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Will's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Will's admirable traits helped him perform his mission. Have his flaws impacted his mission at all? Do any of those who are with him seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,030 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample