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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 does Will do in his first few matches?

2. What do Will and Fritz do when they see each other for the first time after going with their different masters?

3. Why is Beanpole frustrated with his matches?

4. What does Will's master do when he gets into a rage?

5. How does Fritz win in his final race?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the final outcome of the games for the boys?

2. When do Will and Beanpole arrive at the Games, who do they see there and what do they do when they arrive?

3. What does Will's master do to him about what he found and what is Will's response?

4. What does Fritz tell Will he saw that indicated where the Tripods might live?

5. What does Will's master decide is their relationship and what does he ask Will? What is Will's response?

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

7. What does Will's master tell him about how they conquered Earth?

8. What does the city of the masters look like?

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

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

In the world of academe, science fiction is often considered an inferior form of the novel compared to "classic" literature. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think science fiction might be considered second-rate compared to the classics?

2. Do you think science fiction has the same elements as the classics? Why or why not?

3. What are the purposes do you think for people reading "the classics"? What are the purposed for people reading science fiction? Is one purpose better than another? Explain your response.

4. Would you read science fiction even outside an educational setting? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD is one book in a series of novels involving Will, Beanpole and the other characters. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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