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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. By whose visit is the opening of the Ferris Wheel overshadowed?

2. With what is the closing ceremony replaced?

3. Where does Prendergast go in the Prendergast chapter?

4. What is the role of the retrenchment committee?

5. With what is Burnham charged?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Spanish Royal Emissary's visit to Chicago.

2. How does Holmes kill Anna?

3. What eventually happens to the Ferris wheel?

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

5. In what way can the characters of Burnham and Holmes be compared?

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

7. What happens to Olmstead in the Recessional chapter?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Devil in the White City is part of the true crime genre.

1) What are the conventions of the true crime genre in terms of character, language and plot?

2) In what way did White City help to set the template for similar novels? Do modern novels still use the ideas used in White City?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Larson use character and setting to express these themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 665 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample