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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 does Nuke consider Canyonsland National Park?

2. What happens to the garden the librarian started for a project for the youths?

3. What does the judge think when Rick says he doesn't know why he did what he did?

4. What kind of gear does Rick find in Lon's tent?

5. What sort of land does the government offer Nuke for grazing?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Rick's social worker tell the judge about Rick's life, and about how well the social worker knows Rick?

4. What librarian project does Rick think about, and how did that project fare?

5. How does Rick get out of the camp where the truck had taken him, and what happens at first when he leaves?

6. What does Lon tell Rick about his work?

7. Where is the camper driving, and what does Rick find when he looks for food?

8. Why is Lon concerned about M,4 and what does he do about it?

9. How does Rick end up at a gas station where a Humvee is parked?

10. Why is Rick worried because his social worker was fired, and what does he plan to do about his fears?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lon works to save the condors. He complains about people shooting animals or poisoning their food source. He keeps a crippled eagle with him and takes the eagle flying on a hang glider.

1. What does Lon's views on the suffering of animals say about the values he might hold? Use examples from "The Maze" and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think are the causes of people being cruel to the animals when it is not really necessary? Use examples from "The Maze" and your own life to support your answer.

3. What do you think should be the basic rights of animals, and the responsibility of humans to those animals? Use examples from "The Maze" and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "The Maze", questions that Hobbs most likely wanted the readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Hobbs' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

(see the answer keys)

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