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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What explanation does Zaroff give for having recognized Rainsford?
(a) They met during the war.
(b) Zaroff knows Rainsford's hunting partner.
(c) They have crossed paths on their hunting expeditions.
(d) He has read Rainsford's book.

2. What explanation does Zaroff give for his servant's not speaking to Rainsford?
(a) The man can neither hear nor speak.
(b) The man has a phobia of strangers.
(c) Only Zaroff is allowed to speak to visitors.
(d) The man only speaks Russian.

3. Who is Rainsford's hunting partner?
(a) Ivan.
(b) Whitney.
(c) Neilsen.
(d) Sanger.

4. Whom does Zaroff credit for his great abilities as a hunter?
(a) Another famous hunter.
(b) His father.
(c) God.
(d) Himself.

5. What does Zaroff say is the problem with ordinary big-game hunting?
(a) The prey animal has almost no chance of survival.
(b) It wastes the life of an animal for no purpose.
(c) There are too many other great hunters in the world.
(d) It does not take the feelings of the prey animal into account.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Zaroff's response to Rainsford's arrival?

2. What is surprising about General Zaroff's first remarks to Rainsford?

3. What does Zaroff imply he was afraid of when he realized that hunting had begun to bore him?

4. Why does Rainsford have difficulty seeing the island from the ship?

5. What does Zaroff enjoy about hunting humans?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the first encounter between Rainsford and Ivan.

2. In what ways does Zaroff show himself to be a good host?

3. What is the disagreement between Rainsford and Whitney?

4. Describe Zaroff's dining room.

5. What layers of irony are later revealed about Rainsford's suggestion that cannibals might live on Ship-Trap Island?

6. What clues does Connell give right away that the relationship between Ivan and Zaroff developed in the military?

7. How does the discussion of the Cape buffalo introduce a possible meaning of the story's title?

8. Describe the physical setting of Ship-Trap Island.

9. Describe the early warning signs about Zaroff's island that Rainsford ignores.

10. What does Rainsford find in the jungle as he is walking toward Zaroff's house, and what does he conclude from it?

(see the answer keys)

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