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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. What can the orphans hear from behind the doors on each floor?

2. What is an aqueous martini?

3. Whom does Klaus think they should all look for, once the Squalors leave them for the day?

4. What type of ice cream does the narrator at the beginning of Chapter 1 state you may be nervous about eating?

5. At the end of Chapter 4, how do the Baudelaire children feel about their situation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the importance of the doorman's strange clothing?

2. What is revealed about Esme's character when she says, "Quickly, before anybody sees that this apartment is still dark!"

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

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

5. Why does Esme act strangely when Klaus asks her if Gunther took the elevator down from the penthouse?

6. What is significant about the doorman's comments that all problems have a solution, and the solution is sometimes under the nose?

7. What is the importance of the Baudelaire orphans' new guardians being named Squalor?

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

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

10. Why does Esme reject her husband's idea to give the In Auction money to a good cause?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is irony used throughout the novel? Cite different examples of irony and describe whether the use of irony is effective (or not effective) to the overall storyline. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The theme of what's in and out is prevalent throughout the novel. Select three of the major characters and explain how they experience the effects of in and out and acceptance. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,052 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample