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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. Who is Ernie Wilson?

2. Where does the pit bull grab hold?

3. Who do Lon and Rick go after at the end of chapter 20?

4. What does Josh work on where he is?

5. What does Lon realize Carlile has taken?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Lon call Rick Icarus, what does Rick ask about the cliffs and what is Lon's response?

2. What does Lon do about M4 flying in the wrong direction, and what does he decide to do when that fails?

3. What does Rick learn has happened with Lon?

4. What does Lon tell Rick he will do with Rick, what do they discover missing, what does Rick say about the story of Icarus and who do they think have stolen their missing items?

5. How does Rick help Lon after Lon captures M4?

6. What does Lon tell Rick about how he became involved with condors?

7. Who is with Rick back in court, how does Rick feel, what does the judge do when he first comes into the court and what does he ask Rick?

8. How does Rick end up getting chased by Nuke's dog, and how does he manage to get away?

9. What does Rick do about Carlile and finding Lon's missing items?

10. How did Lon end up with Ernie?

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

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "The Maze" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "The Maze" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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