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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 is the bird that Billy sees doing inside the bed and breakfast?

2. What trait does Billy associate with success?

3. Where has Billy arrived at the beginning of the story?

4. The description of the wind in the opening paragraphs of the story employs what literary technique?

5. What does the word "rapacious" mean?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Billy attempts to walk away from the bed and breakfast?

2. What type of narrator does the story have?

3. What is Billy wearing? How does he feel?

4. As Billy stares through the front window of the bed and breakfast, what animals does he see inside? What are they doing?

5. What trait does Billy believe is essential to success? What makes him think this?

6. As Billy stares through the front window of the bed and breakfast, what does he immediately see inside?

7. According to Billy, what are the benefits of staying at The Bell and Dragon?

8. Describe the landlady as she appears when Billy first encounters her.

9. What initially frightens Billy about the bed and breakfast? What does he think about bed and breakfasts in general?

10. Where does Billy initially plan to stay while in Bath? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Billy finds himself involved in a few conflicts over the course of the story. Choose one instance of internal conflict and one instance of external conflict, and explain how these conflicts have an impact on the story and on Billy.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Billy and the landlady. How are they similar, and how are they different? What does each want? Support your answers with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

What makes Billy so attractive to the landlady? Discuss three of Billy’s traits that contribute to his demise.

(see the answer keys)

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