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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. According to the narrator, what is an alternative meaning of 'mixed bag"?

2. According to Esme, what is illegal to auction off?

3. According to Mr. Squalor, what is one thing the children can do to save breath?

4. When the Baudelaires reach the bottom of the staircase after listening at every apartment door, who do they see?

5. According to the narrator, what does the phrase "dwarfed by comparison" not have to deal with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the meaning of "nervous" and "anxious" important to the reader's understanding of the novel?

2. Why do the Baudelaire children lie about whether they are interested in or enjoy their presents from Esme?

3. What is revealed about Esme when she comments that orphans are so "in" they ought to be in the In Auction?

4. How does the atmosphere on Dark Avenue mirror the orphans' feelings in Chapter 1?

5. How does the author illustrate the differences between Esme and Jerome Squalor?

6. What does the pinstripe suits being too big illustrate about Esme Squalor?

7. What is the significance of the doorman telling the Baudelaire children and Jerome they can't go up to the penthouse until Gunther comes down?

8. Why is it important to know that Jerome Squalor could have adopted the Baudelaire children earlier but did not because orphans were not "in"?

9. What is ironic about Mr. Poe telling the children about the staircase, "it's all uphill from here"?

10. What does the narrator mean when he states "...like caramel candy, strawberry yogurt, and liquid carpet cleaner, if you eat too much of it you are not going to enjoy your meal"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the genre of "The Ersatz Elevator"? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses idioms throughout the novel via the narrator. What purpose does the use of idioms serve to the overall storyline of "The Ersatz Elevator"? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Jerome Squalor and his wife, Esme. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,070 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample