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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 does Prendergast go in the Prendergast chapter?

2. Whose World's Fair attendance record does Chicago beat?

3. What is Prendergast's sentence for killing Harrison?

4. What does Holmes say Anna should start studying?

5. Who attends in place of Ferris?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Chicago after the Exposition is finished?

2. What happens to the Ferris Wheel during the windstorm?

3. How does Holmes occupy himself in prison?

4. How does Holmes react to Geyer's finding the bodies?

5. What does McKim write in his letter in the Departures chapter?

6. What happens to Millet in the Aboard the Olympic chapter?

7. Why does the New York editor want his fellow editors to apologize to Chicago?

8. What do Minnie and Anna see at the fair?

9. What does Geyer find out about the children in Indianapolis?

10. Describe the first test runs with the Ferris Wheel.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the depression of 1893.

1) How bad was the 1893 depression? How long did it last?

2) How did Chicago made such a success of the Exposition when there was a depression going on?

3) How could the authorities justify spending so much money on one event when people were struggling?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways has Chicago always been linked with crime? What other criminals are linked with the city? How is Chicago's reputation for crime influenced through its representation in popular culture? What difference do the students think the Exposition made to crime in the city?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Larson use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main characters, examine the way Larson uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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