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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. Who pulls Will from the river outside the city?

2. What appears to be wrong with the scenes of landscapes of the world?

3. How does Will do in his first few matches?

4. On what does the master begin to take Will?

5. What happens to Will after his action in question #173?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Will find out about slaves at the end of their lives?

2. What do Will and Fritz do when they see each other for the first time since entering the city?

3. What kind of tasks must Will do for his master?

4. How does Will learn more about the city and what does he see?

5. How does the first part of the competition go for the boys?

6. How are the athletes given to masters and how does Will's situation go in that event?

7. How does Will get to his master's house, what does it look like and where might his master being in the social hierarchy?

8. How does Will's master relax and what kind of information seems to fascinate him?

9. What do the athletes do when they first arrive in the city?

10. When Will returns home after a long errand for his master what does he find out when he gets there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Will left White Mountain to go to the games in hopes of entering the Tripod City he did so in order to find a way to fight the aliens. The two groups, Tripods and Humans are set up as evil and good. In a majority of fiction there are usually clear lines between "good and evil." Will runs into a small glitch in his good and evil thinking -- his Master decides to be friends and for the most part treats him well.

1. Although no true friendship can exist between a master and a slave -- the power distribution is too uneven, Will certainly fares better than Fritz. What do you think is meant by this statement? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think in any group of people all of the members are either evil or good? For example is it possible there are some good in the aliens? Why or why not?

3. Describe a situation in the 21st. Century that you think represents an alignment of Good on one side, and of Evil on the other.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme?" If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme?" If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD? Which theme in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The boys steal Hans' boat and Will learns a lesson in human compassion as he sees the desperation in Hans' face when Hans realizes he cannot stop them from leaving with his only means to reach the nearby village. Will is touched and will remember that moment for the rest of his life, suggesting some character growth from this event. Discuss one of the following questions:

1. What is compassion? How is compassion shown? Why might Will learn compassion from watching Hans? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. What is the difference between compassion and pity? Discuss the implications of feeling pity versus feeling compassion. Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. How did feeling compassion for Hans help Will grow? Compassion is generally associated with mature individuals. Do you think Will's growth made him more mature? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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