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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. How many adult condors are alive?

2. Why was Rick brought to court?

3. How does Rick get his third ride?

4. What does Rick find that he considers stealing?

5. What is the land on which the camp is located called?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Rick get caught and what does the man order him to do?

2. What does Lon tell Rick about his work?

3. What do Lon and Rick do after Joe leaves, what does Rick ask Lon and what is Lon's response?

4. What does Rick think about as he is riding in a camper in which he hid?

5. Why has Rick been brought before a judge, what does he say about his actions and how does the judge view Rick?

6. What is the dream Rick has when he is sleeping in the desert where the camper had gone?

7. How and when does Rick implement his plan?

8. What does Rick learn from the man about where he is?

9. Why does Rick hide at the camp and what does he see and hear while Lon is gone?

10. What does Rick tell Lon about the camp when Lon was gone, what is Lon's response and what warning does he give Rick?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many people were running from their problems, such as jobs they hated, bad marriages, or escaping from relatives they did not like, by leaving for the gold fields. Many realized very quickly that no matter how far they ran the character flaws were always there. Rick has run from his problems, but then finds he must face the central cause of his problems -- himself.

1. Running from problems by going somewhere else is called a "geographic cure." Discuss what do you think this means.

2. Do you believe taking the geographic cure is a good idea or a bad idea? Why or why not? Could it be different depending on the circumstance? How did running help Rick? How did it harm him?

3. Discuss two situations that might respond well to a geographic cure and two that wouldn't be helped with on. Does Rick's determination to leave the detention center seem like a geographic cure? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

"The Maze" belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Will Hobbs.

2. What in Hobbs's background may have helped him in writing "The Maze"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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